George Diary: February 1865

Wednesday Feb. 1st.: Weather clear and pleasant. Orders this morning to to pack knapsacks, except tents, and be ready for action at a moments notice. No unusual occurance on our lines to-day.
Thursday Feb. 2nd.: Weather clear and pleasant. We are still under marching orders. Visited Captain Burns at his quarters at the 3d. Maryland. Was at Meads Station with Lieut. Doughlass, and from there we went to our Division Hospital to see some of our wounded. Returned in the evening, found I was detailed for picket.
Friday Feb. 3d.: Cloudy with light rain. On picket on the R.R., on a lonely post, that is I am alone; considerable shelling on both sides during the day; shells scream just over my head; imagine I can feel the rush of the air. Report that a movement is in progress on our left.
Sabbath Feb. 5th.: Orders this morning to pack knapsacks and be ready to march. A general military movement is believed to be in progress on our left.
Monday Feb. 6th.: Weather cloudy and cold. Still under marching orders. Picket detail for to-night is revoked. This is certainly unusual.
Tuesday Feb. 7th.: Weather raw with sleety rain. Heavy firing is heard on our left; an important movement seems to be in progress.
Wednesday Feb. 8th.: Weather clear and cold. The report this morning is that our forces have captured the South Side R.R., if so it must be accepted as a heavy blow to the enemy as it severs his communication with the south. This is the outcome of the movement started two or three days ago for which we have been under orders with knapsacks packed, in order to be ready for any emergency that might develop. Will go on picket to-night. The heavy charge yesterday on our main lines at the Yellow House was by the enemy. Enemy repulsed with heavy loss.
Thursday Feb. 9th.: Clear, cold, on picket last night with No. 4. Division, which is directly in front of our regiment. Considerable artillery firing on our right, which rests on the Appomattox, broke out about ten o'clock to-night. Also unusual brisk picket firing along the rail road on our front.
Saturday Feb. 11th.: Weather clear and pleasant. Was down at City Point this morning returning on the three o'clock train. Lively shelling during the day in front of our regiment. Not many casualties.
Monday Feb. 13th.: Weather cold and windy. Was on picket last night with No. 5. Division; I occupy post on the R.R. alone; put in very uncomfortable 24 hours from wind and cold.
Tuesday Feb. 14th.: Weather not so cold. Brigade inspection at one o'clock P.M. Captain Robinson of the 20th. Michigan Regiment was shot and killed by a rebel sharp shooter as he was riding along the breastworks of our regiment. Private Moorhead was shot on the picket line last night and is thought to be mortally wounded. Some shelling to-day.
Wednesday Feb. 15th.: Weathwer raining all day. Took four rebel deserters to Brigade Head Quarters to-day. Rebel deserters are coming in almost every night. Was over at the Division Commisary on a visit. R. D. Holmes has been appointed R. Q. M. Robert McLain Q. S., and Captain Robbins Division Commissary. All quiet.
Thursday Feb. 16th.: Weather clear and pleasant. Was on picket on a lone vidette post last night; this is one of those dangerous posts. Was instructed to leave it and return to quarters at the first streak of day.
Monday Feb. 20th.: Weather clear and pleasant. Our Regiment received one hundred and fifty recruits to-day; twelve were assigned to Co. G. The enemy surprised us to-day by giving us a severe shelling from a new position. They did us some damage; we did not suffer so much as some other Regiments. As soon our artillery get a line on it, it will be silenced.
Tuesday Feb. 21st.: Clear and pleasant. Received anoter squad of forty eight recruits, five of whom were assigned to Co. G. I understand that most of these recruits are substitutes and drafted men. Was on fatigue duty last night until midnight repairing Fort Steadman.
Wednesday Feb. 22nd.: Heavy cannonading on the Appomattox; brisk picket firing all along our lines during the day. Warning from Head Quarters to be diligently on the alert. Was on quarter guard last night.
Thursday Feb. 23d.: Weather cloudy raining. Much picket firing last night; there is a restless feeling in the air; nothing, however, unusual occurred on our lines to-day. Writing letters.
Friday Feb. 24th.: Weather cloudy and misty rain. The enemy gave us a lively shelling to-day about noon. Various reports in the air of rebel movements; these reports are brought in by rebel deserters who are coming in every night. Official announcements of the capture of Wilmington.
Saturday Feb. 25th.: Cloudy raining all day. Heavy artillery firing on our right beginning about 5 P.M. and continuing for several hours. There is a fire in Petersburg to-night causing us to infer that the rebels may be preparing to evacuate.
Sabbath Feb. 26th.: Weather partially cloudy warm. On our left there are two rebel forts not far apart on our left that are especially annoying to our troops; one of these forts our men have named "Fort Hell," the other "Fort Damnation." These opprobrious names became attached to these forts and so became known to our enemy. It is reported that the enemy is massing troops in the vicinity of these two forts. There is considerable picket firing and a feeling of unrest seems to be in the air.
Monday Feb. 27th.: Normally quiet.
Tuesday Feb. 28th.: Normally quiet.

PREVIOUS NEXT