AUGUST 1862

Friday, August 1

Roll call. Brigade drill in forenoon. The Rebels opened fire on our transports last night at one oclock which continued for an hour very hard when the Gunboats drove them away. No damage done the boats. Was some men killed and wounded in camp. In afternoon is Regimental drill and dress parade. Was prayer meeting in the evening.

Saturday, August 2

Got up and went through the usual performances. Roll call, no drill to day is a thorough policing of the Camp, cleaning of streets and diches. Is somewhat cloudy but the sun is very warm, is a nice cool air blowing all day. Was dress parade in the evening. Troops, Artillery and Cavalry is moving rapidly this evening back and forward. Was prayer meeting in evening.

Sunday, August 3

Rained some last night. Roll call. Regmiental inspection this forenoon by General Herve. Part of Hooker's Division moved beyond the picket line last night and planted several batteries and the rest went next the river, do not know their intentions. We got the receipt for the box of fruit they are sending us from home yesterday evening. Was preaching by the Chaplain.

Monday, August 4

Roll call. Regimental drill in forenoon. Received a letter from home this morning stating all well; also that the box of fruit is started to us. Day is very hot and sultry. Was Brigade drill in afternoon and dress parade. Is a parcel of troops passing to the front this evening. Mr. Amos Steel is appointed cook for the company. Is prayer meeting this evening.

Tuesday, August 5

Roll call. Regimental drill in forenoon. Our troops had a fight with the Rebels on Malvern Hill and drove them away. S.E. Sullivan and John Christy got their discharges to day. General Couche's Division started this evening at eight oclock with two days rations. Is tremendous hot this afternoon. Got a new Doctor in by name T.W. Roberts.

Wednesday, August 6

Arose, had breakfast reported to Doctor, have bad pain in my side and head, also cramp in my stomach. The sun is beaming down the near way all day. Was two days rations sent out to the Regiment in the wagons this evening. Part of the 11th P.V. came down on the Boats this evening. They all look very poor.

Thursday, August 7

Very warm last night. The Regiment returned to Camp this morning at nine oclock. David Smith and James Myers returned yesterday evening on the Boat from Richmond, they were taken prisoners about two weeks after the battle of fair-oaks by Stewart's Cavalry. No drill to day, dress parade in the evening. Is prayer meeting.

Friday, August 8

Roll call. No drill nor dress parade. Was eight companies went out on picket this morning, ours did not go. I bought two apples at the Sutlers for five cents. There is very little air all day and the sun is excessive hot. The Balloon is up at the River this evening. We drew fresh beef this morning. Was prayer meeting.

Saturday, August 9

Roll call, no drill today, was no air and the sun is very hot, somewhat cloudy. Mr. George Daub and James D. Martin returned to the Company, they being sick got a furlow and went home. Mr. James Scott found his Regiment (103) this evening being wounded and at Baltimore. Received a letter from home. Was prayer meeting. I drew one canteen to day.

Sunday, August 10

Roll call, was inspection of canteens, knapsacks and haversacks and arms this morning. Is very hot all day and sultry. Was dress parade in the evening. Was a short discourse by the Chaplain. Was a hard dash of wind and rain before sundown. J. H. Randolph came to the Regiment. The troops got orders to have two days cooked rations and four in wagon and ready to march at two oclock tomorrow.

Monday, August 11

Roll call. All the sick reported to the doctor and were sent to one place. The knapsacks were sent to the River belonging to the Regt. Is cloudy and looks like rain, cool wind blowing. Part of the sick were taken down to the River in Ambulances to the general Hospital, the rest staid in Camp all night. First Lieutenant C. L. Barclay returned to the Regiment this evening. Was prayer meeting in the evening.

Tuesday, August 12

We staid at the Division Hospital all night, in the morning we walked down to the General Hospital and lay there all day, they were recording the names and putting them on board Transports all day. Is hot sun, but cool air, was a very hard storm of wind in the evening blowing the dust in a perfect clouds. Got rations of bread, coffee, potatoes, onions, &c. &c.

Wednesday, August 13

None sent last night. We lay on the ground all night. Are formed in companies of 50, squads of ten gives in their names at a time. Were sent from Hospital in forenoon, got aboard the Boat George Washington which started at or about noon down the River. Is very warm. Gen McCall, Capt. Stewart, Lieut. Kennedy and the rest of the P.V.R.C. Officers came from Richmond to H. Land in forenoon. Boat arrived at Ft. Monroe at dark, staid aboard all night.

Thursday, August 14

Got off the Boat at seven oclock in morning and got breakfast; all that could walk a mile went to the Mill Creek Hospital, I went, got our dinners at five P.M. Is cloudy and looks like rain. Bought some peaches and a cantalope. Lewis Cass White, John Milton White, Robert Riley, Corporal Eli Black, David Bedillian, Isaac Stewart and myself is in one tent with three others.

Friday, August 15

Got up at six, had breakfast of bread, rice, molasses, and tea, have considerable pain in my side. Dinner of soup and bread and beef. Supper had bread and tea and some dried apples. Sprinkled rain some at times, is very cloudy. There is one thousand to cook for at this Hospital. Was iron bedsteds for one man to lay on and mattresses brought in, I got one of each. Was a Rebel patient died in hospital this evening.

Saturday, August 16

Last night cool, got breakfast of bread, tea, and apples. Dinner of fresh beef, bread and soup. I did not eat any supper. The men are busy putting Hospital tents up here for the accomodation of the sick that is coming from McLellan's Army. Is a cool wind blowing all day. The Fifth Maryland Regt is on guard duty at the Hospital.

Sunday, August 17

Is cloudy and cool, had breakfast of tea, bread and fat pork. I cooked my dinner of onions, bread, &c. Had supper of coffee, bread and meat. Was two or three car loads of sick came here to day. Day is pleasant and cool. It is said that General Porter's Corpse is at Fortress Monroe on the boats. McLellan's Army has moved from Harrison's Landing.

Monday, August 18

Got up washed, had breakfast of coffee, bread and ham. Silas McLure came to the Fortress yesterday, saw him this morning. Dinner of bread and fresh beef and soup. Supper of bread and tea and pork. Is a cool air blowing all day. There are some sick still arriving from Harrison's Landing at this place.

Tuesday, August 19

Got up and washed, had breakfast of bread, coffee, and fat pork. Dinner of bread and soup and fresh beef, supper of bread, tea, and pork. Is very cool and cloudy today. Was a partial examination of the men here and the names of some taken. They stood guard around the Camp to keep the Soldiers from getting out and eating green fruit.

Wednesday, August 20

Sun is very warm, is cloudy and looks like rain. We had for grub to day the same as formerly the bread is good but the coffee and tea is not very good generable. There is three of the Sturgis Rifles tents in the same tent with us. After supper, I got an aching or pain all through my body, got stuff from Doctor that helped me a little.

Thursday, August 21

Did not sleep any last night. Was pained hard all night, am better this morning, am weak and restless. The Doctor was around this evening and prescribes for all of us. I got an order and got some bread, butter and molasses. Mr. David Bedillian of Company H 102nd Regiment Pa Vol died this evening at the Mill Creek Hospital at Fortress Monroe.

Friday, August 22

I feel a little better this morning, did not rest well last night. Is cool and cloudy, and rains some to day. There was a committee around the Camp this afternoon and got the names of five or six hundred to be sent to their Regiments as soon as possible. We got our regular rations of bread coffee, meat &c. &c.

Saturday, August 23

Cool last night. Heard that Pope was defeated yesterday. Rested easier last night. Wrote one letter home this forenoon. Is rations issued out of the new cook house, is two places here now where they issue rations. The rations we get here is very inferior except the bread and it is quite good.

Sunday, August 24

Rose early, feel some better this morning, went to the Bay and bathed in the salt water this morning. Is quite cool all day, General Peck's Division came within a mile and half of Fortress Monroe to day. Our Regiment the 102nd is at Yorktown, Virginia. Was a Negro Funeral this evening, they followed singing returned the same.

Monday, August 25

Up at six went to the Bay and washed. Do not feel so well as I did yesterday. James W. Fletcher was down to see us at the Hospital at noon. Was one of the Sisters of Charities around the Camp this afternon, she gave some good advise (sic) and a white handkerchief apiece. I did not get any. Things pass off quietly around Fortress Monroe, this is all.

Tuesday, August 26

Breakfast of bread and coffee, dinner of bread, and meat and soup. Supper of bread and coffee. We do not receive full rations and it is very weak diet, it is not calculated to make a person strong very fast. Mr. Silas McLure and Robert Rily started away on the John Brooks this evening to join their Regiment. Is quite pleasant.

Wednesday, August 27

We heard this morning that the Boat John Brooks was run into last night and sunk with five hundred Regulars and a parcel of convalescent Soldiers returning to their Regiments from their Hospital at Fort Monroe. Was thirty nurses off the Elm City came here this evening and is camping among us. The sister of charity was with us this evening.

Thursday, August 28

Got up and washed, got breakfast, went to the Bay and bathed. Got a linen shirt from the Hospital department. Got a pass and went down to the Fort; was in the Fort is a nice place. The citizens has got orders to tear down or remove all the buildings around Fortress Monroe. Dr. J. R. Bronson is the Surgeon in charge of the Hospital at Mill Creek.

Friday, August 29

Got up and went the rounds of former days, we get our three meals a day but it is very poor stock. Dr. P. Hickson is Doctor of Ward G. (our ward) he is hard of hearing, is Officer of the day, is a very nice man. There is from two to three buried here every day. Is very warm all day. Is troops going on board transports is said for Suffolk.

Saturday, August 30

Is cool and pleasant to day. We received our Regular meals and the same old kind of grub we have been used to get. There is more troops going on board to day. I received a letter from home at noon, and wrote one home in the evening, put it in the office, the mail starts from here at nine oclock in the morning, and arrives at one oclock P.M.

Sunday, August 31

Cloudy and cool, rains and thunders some, is cool and pleasant. There is more troops going on board vessels to day. The Carpenters is working at the Building at the Hospital to day. It is an extension to the cook House formerly there. There is preaching at the Hospital this afternoon. The first Brigade of Gen Peck's Division is at Yorktown, the 2nd at Hampton the 3rd embarked.