Mon [December] 15 [1862]

Quiet night ---- except aroused by musketry near us at 1 A.M.
Attended Sergt Townsend's funeral at 9 A.M. buried in box west side of garden
of Jno. Minor house -- nearly So.E. of R. Mosely grave (in next lot.) almost in
line with an ivy covered tree -- 1/2 back fr. St. head to to St -- Caroline St.
The battle Sat. was very severe -- Our loss is now 94 -- K. W. & M. We are
ordered to move all wounded across river. Either bec. we expect them to
shell city or we renew battle. What strange & dreadful wounds.
Talked with wounded -- prayed &c -- Fine pleasant morning -- Our little
cottage has a hole fr. shell right over where we eat & sleep --
The drummers are throwing up bomb casemates at end of garden --
12 noon wrote letters to friends of some of dead -- No action today -- Since
Thurs. morn. we have been in momentary expectation of a general engage-
ment. Sat. we had -- but all rest of time we have been in suspense.
Or food is chiefly bacon -- fried -- griddle cakes without eggs or raising --
& hard tack - 1 P.M. -- just thro dinner & the batteries are opening.
Silent again -- wrote Mr. H. A.G.G. of our brigade has ordered a detail
of men to get crow bars & to loop hole houses --
5 P.M. The fact that our wounded have been removed & surgeons sent over
& loads of furniture & stoves also -- & no attack made today -- & most of
all that our severe attack made really no impression on rebel line --& our
loss is great -- I infer that we may be withdrawn across river tongiht -- &
the loop holes are for sharp-shooters to cover retreat -- But the rebels can
shell us at leisure -- Our batteries can cover us from other bank -- but if
bridge is broken it would be a bad place -- the rebel papers call this spot a
vast slaughter pen -- May God direct & keep us -- a shell just burst in air
near us fr. rebel battery -- tho. no regular firing --
Just got thru. supper when Regt. was ordered to support picket. I left at
Hd. qrs. of 25th Reg. in charge of sick, guards & drummers -- Reported to Col.
[Rush C.] Hawkins about 8 -- he ordered me to move across river -- I called all in
took names put sick in front -- drummers next -- guard in rear -- put spare
muskets in hands of drummers -- put house in order -- left memo. for
Col -- in case he called also a notice to all after comers to preserve place
& furniture as we had -- fastened house up -- formed line & marched
silently down dark st. to turn over to river -- Met our regt. among others
ready to pass over -- Marched to bridge -- Met Col. Dutton's regt. halted at bridge.
Got brigade comd. to let us pass -- got over safely -- counted files halted for sick
& then wandered along in dark for three hours seeking our camp -- at last
made Gen. Sumner's hd.qrs. & reached Camp at 12 1/2. Called roll -- Regt came in
about 1 A.M. turned in very tired -- came on rain & blow. While waiting
orders to cross talked with Corp. Jones -- deeply affected tears & prayers -- perhaps
conviction perhaps fear of enemies shells -- for didn't know but enemy wd.
open on us -- Our army crossed great many regts. lost road. frequent calls
"What regt is that" on way -- Had difficulty in keeping men together -- but all
over safe.

Colonel Arthur H. Dutton (1837-1864) of the 21st Connecticut
Corporal Charles Jones, Co. G. 25th New Jersey