James T. Rogers:
His Civil War Diary (Part II)
The James T. Rogers diary is provided courtesy of Angus McKay Cameron, a member of the family, and is presented as
previously transcribed. Cartersville Crossroads deeply appreciates the interest of Mr. Cameron and others across Chatham County, who have provided family documents for publication, helping others understand the contributions of county natives to the defense of their state.
Annotated by Dennis Brooks
This morning the 26th I am up but not very well. We are doing nothing today. This morning the 27th is my birthday [27]. I am loafing about the camp; nothing to do. Today the 28th of August 1861, S.M. Riggsbee and myself took a stroll into the county and spent some very pleasant hours with Mrs. Walker and Mrs. Bedora Dobson.
We got a very good dinner at Mr. Dobson's and then we went over to my friend Mr. Miner's where we joined with some of our friends and spent a short time with them. We ate some very nice Water Melons and then we ate our Supper and started for the camp. We arrived safe at 8 o'clock and went in our tents to go to sleep. This morning the 29th we all got up and it was raining very hard but has now seaced. This is about 8 o'clock in the morning.
This is the 14th of September 1861. There has not been anything of importance done since the 29th of August 1861. We have been in camp, those of us that was well enough, and balance of Our company has been out in the country to try and improve their health. We have now in camp about fifty four men. H.G. Horton [28] was discharged on the 13th of Sept. 1861. We are doing nothing now. The weather is very warm. our chaplain [29] reached us on the 7th of Sept. 1861 and has been having prayers every night, and preaches for us every Sunday. There has been nothing of interest since the 7th of Sept.
Today the 21st of Sept. Geo. Leach [30] and myself went out to Mr. Miner's and stayed all night, and today the 22nd, we are at Golster point [31] sitting in the carriage with Miss Dollie Miner & Mr. Bassett listening to Mr. Scott preach. He preached a very good sermon. We then went to Mr. Walker's where we remained all night and was treated very kind by him. He was Methodist Preacher. We then went back to camp again. This was about 4 o'clock monday evening the 23rd of Sept. 1861. We are again in camp. It is now night. We remained at Camp Clark until the 25th of Sept. and on the morning of the 25th we moved back to York Town where we pitch our tents again for a short time. This morning the 26th finds us about 1 mile beyond York Town where we pitched our tents in an open field, where we have about Eight Thousand other soldiers with us. They are all Louisiana & Alabama & Georgia Regts. We are tolerable well in camp.
There has been nothing of interest since I wrote until today, Oct. 2. 1 started today for Richmond. I am now on the Logan at Gloster Point. We will be off in a few minutes. We reached West Point at half past seven that night and all landed safe and then we had a time getting to the Hotel through mud and water, and as dark as it could be, but finally we reach there and registered our names and ate our supper, and then for getting our rooms. We succeeded in getting a roan in an office up stairs where we slept tolerable well. This morning the 3rd we arose and the sun is shining beautifully, (but last night the way it rained was a sight), and everything looks flourishing, and now after breakfast, (which was very late for I am quite hungry), I shall walk over this little place and see what kind of a place West Point is, and at 12 o'clock we will start for Richmond. This is the 3rd of Oct. 1861. In going from West Point to Richmond, I past the house and saw the place where Washington (The Father of our Country) was married. A gentleman told me that the table was in the house there that he ate his wedding supper upon. I arrived in Richmond at 2 o'clock on the 3rd of Oct. and remained until 4 o'clock friday morning at the American Hotel, and then I left for Petersburg, where I arrived for breakfast at the Garrett Hotel, and now I am on my way to Weldon. (Morris [32], a member of our company, died the 13th of Oct. 1861 of consumption.)
I arrived at Garysburg (our old drill ground) at Eleven o'clock and then in a short time we reached Weldon, where I got a tolerable dinner at 2 o'clock. I started again for Petersburg, where I arrived this evening the 11th at five o'clock, and I took supper at the Bolin Brook Hotel, and now I am in my room at 9 o'clock. This morning I left for Richmond, where I reached about 12 o'clock. I went with a friend to Dr. Lynes' where I was met very kindly, and I was ask to spend what time with them I could. This was the 5th, and today the 6th, I am at the Methodist church waiting to hear a sermon from Mr. Dunston. [He] preached from these words: let him know he that converteth a sinner from the error of his way saves a soul from death and hides a multitude of sins. (James the 20 chapter and 16 verse). Then I returned to my friend Dr. Lynes where I remained until the morning of the 8th, when I started for York Town. I spent a very pleasant time with the Dr. & Wife and especially with his two Daughters Miss Mollie & Miss Bettie. They are very nice young Ladies. I arrived at West Point at 1/2 past ten o'clock, the 8th of Oct. 1861. 1 am now sitting in the Steamer Logan waiting for her to leave for Yorktown. At 6 o'clock the same Evening I returned to my camp immediately and found all of my friends glad to see me. I went the next day to lay off the ground for our camp about eight miles below this place. We will move down. It is raining very hard today, the 10th of Oct. 1861.
On the morning of the 11th, we packed up our camp equipage and hired some carts to take our Trunks as we could not carry anything but what we could carry on our backs. We had to pay $3.00 for an ox cart to carry us Eight miles. A few of us started on with our carts in advance of our Regiment. We got to the camp about 2 o'clock, and at night the Regt. came and we put up our tents and laid down on the ground, and now this morning, the 12th, we are all fixing up our camp. This is called Camp Euraka. This Evening I have seen several of the first Regt. N.C.V. They are in camp near to us. This is Saturday Evening the 13th of Oct. 1861. This Sunday, the 14th, we have all pitched our tents and all is quiet today, Monday morning, the 15th. We will resume our regular duties today. -- This [is the] 16th. Everything went on as usual until the night of the 20th at about 10 o'clock when the long roll beat and we were all ordered to march to Custices lane, a distance of four miles. We reached there about 12 o'clock. We were ordered to take up camp. We had no tents, but we made bush arbours and sleped as well as we could. It rained all the next day and part of the night. That was the 21st. We were ordered to throw up embankments all the time we were there. We threw up about 2 Hundred yards of embankments while we were there.
On the night of the 23rd at two o'clock, we were ordered back to Camp Euraka, where we left. We reached there about daylight and we were then ordered immediately to Yorktown, which was a distance of 8 miles, which distance we marched nearly all the way. Just before we reached there we were halted, ordered back to a place called Grafton Church, which place we reach about 2 hours by sun and remained there until our tents came, which was the 24th, and then we remained pitching our tents until today, which is the 26th. Tonight, the Sheriff of Chatham N.C. [33] was with us. We are all in camp, that is, all that is well. After Supper I went to John Payton's tent and was insulted by him without any provisation what ever and which I shall not forget, unless an apoligy by him, and if he is a Gentleman he will. My feelings were very much wounded. It [is] something that I never had any one to do before. This was done on the 26th of Oct. 1861. 1 am not as well as I have been but I am improving. The 28th I was beat for 3rd Lieut. of the Chatham Rifles [34]. The 29th & 30th, everything was quiet. On the morning of the 31st, we were ordered to march to Custices lane, a distance of 9 miles. We reached there about 3 o'clock p.m. The same day a few of us put up our tents and then got our supper and retired to rest. This morning, we arose and cookd our breakfast and ate it, and now we are ready for duty, this the 1st day of Nov. 1861.
When I left the church I left Levi Rogers[35] quite sick but I hope he will soon join us again. On the night of the 1st while it was raining and everything quiet as we thought, myself with E. Long [36] & A.G. Riggsbee [37] was in my tent writing letters and to our surprise the long role beat. And you never saw fellows in such confusion in your life. Some had lost their catridge box and some one thing and some another. I threw my letter away and grab my gun and overcoat and started. ÔIt was about 11 o'clock at night when we started. We marched through mud and water and over fences and logs for about two miles, when we came into the road that led to Betheal. We got to Betheal and halted a few moments, when the 8th Alabama joined us and we marched about four miles below Betheal and halted. After staying there a while, we were ordered to march back to our camp which was about seven miles. We were then about five miles of Newport News. And I tell you when we got back to our camp it was one o'clock at night and we were wet and muddy up to our knees. Some of us had dry cloths and some did not. I was one of the fortunate ones. Then we all went immediately to bed and when I arose it was five minutes after Eleven o'clock the 2nd of Nov. 1861.
This evening, I will call it, for it is now two o'clock. When I arose, I was very hungry. I went out and gave a boy twenty five cents for a snack to eat. I am now in my tent drying my pants while I am writing. Our trip was all for no purpose. We only went to move two familys which we did and took one man to Yorktown as he was thought to be a spy. I only hope we will not have another such a trip soon. After all the hardships I feel tolerable well.
This evening -- It has stoped raining and the sun is shining beautifull again. Tonight while I was writing to my Father we got orders to hold our selves in readyness to march at half past six tomorrow morning. With one day rations in our haversacks we all fell to cooking. At 11 o'clock we all had our rations cooked and in our haversacks, and then we went to bed but did not sleep much.
This Sunday morning the 3rd we marched at 1/2 past six. We marched about six miles. once we were halted and turned back. The object was to get a family that wanted to move to York Town. We did not get them. And we then marched back to our camp. We had a flag of truce tacked to the Ambulance. It went on to Fortress Monroe to bring an old Negro back that wished to come [38]. We arrived back in camp at half past 12 o'clock. After taking my dinner off of a rosted Turkey and then taking a good smoke, I feel tolerable well. This is Sunday Evening the 3rd of Nov. 1861 This morning the 4th we all marched off again, and after marching about 6 miles they were halted and waited until the 8th Alabama came back. They were near Newport News and took two jackass and one wagon and four mules and moved several familys and sent them on to Richmond. They all returned the same evening. This morning the 5th they all march off again. I went to YorkTown, and when I returned they had all come back without doing anything at all. Everything was quiet last night.
Today, the 6th a good many of our fellows are at work making a Damm [39] to flood the land to stop the march of the yankees. About one o'clock there arose a dark cloud in the north and it Lightned and Thundered very hard, and then it hailed some very large hail stones, and rained a good shower, and the sun has shone out, but it is turning quite cold. This morning the 7th, we are all up and we have a beautifull day, everything quiet in Camp. This morning the 8th all quiet. This 9th all quiet. This Sunday morning the 10th, after inspection of armes as usual on sunday we received order to cook one days rations and at Eleven o'clock we marched off and now while I am writing we are resting at Betheal about twelve o'clock. After we rested a while we marched towards Hampton. At four o'clock we were marched out into the field near a house, and the other part of the column were placed on the other side of the road with Cobb's Legion. We were formed in line of battle and ordered armes [40] and then, we stacked our armes and three men and one non commissioned officer [41] left to guard the guns while the balance went into the corn field to gather corn. I was the lucky non commission officer that was left. I had a good time to rest while they were gone. We had with us about four thousand men while as many went the other way on the same errand.
It is now about five o'clock. We are in six miles of Fortress Monroe. After we filled some thirty or forty wagons with corn, we marched back to our camp. We got there about 8 o'clock at night. This morning, the 11th, we are preparing to march again. We went and brought corn as before. This morning, the 12th, we marched in about five miles of Hampton and loaded up about forty loads of corn and returned again to camp and everything is quiet now. I have a very good night's rest. This morning, the 13th, we have a beautiful morning. Our company is in camp today. Six camps of the Regt. have gone today after more corn. They arrived home safe that night. The night before last, the 12th, two of the old dominion pickets [42] came in contact with Col. Cobb's Legion [43] and they fired at those two pickets and killed the Maj. of their own Legion, and shot the Lieut. Col. horse from under him, and wounded him very bad. It was a serious matter for them to fire on each other all being friends. The Maj. died in a few minutes. He only said he was killed by his own men, and he wanted to be carried home. This morning finds us all out on picket. We came out last night, and will remain until this evening which is the 14th of Nov.
The Regt. all started off again this morning for more corn. They returned at night as usual. Last night we had a hard rain. This morning, the 15th, we have a gloomy morning. Some of our fellows have gone to work the road. Everything is very calm in camp this morning. They returned and we had a quiet night. This Saturday morning, the 16th, we have a beautiful morning and now we are all in arms ready to march again. We went in about six miles of Fortress Monroe and gathered fifty two loads of corn, and then returned to our camp and ate our supper and had a good night's rest.
This morning is the Sabbath and 17th. We have had a nice and quiet day today, and all of our fellows seem to be in good spirits. We traveled over some of the prettiest canals I ever saw, some of the most beautiful farms I ever saw. It is a pine country, and just as level as a plank floor, and it is well adapted to the growth of wheat and corn, and one of the greatest vegetable country you ever saw. This morning, Monday morning, this 18th we have a beautiful morning, but it is rather cool. We are now all improving in health. Now at eight o'clock we were ordered to march about six miles towards Newport News, and stand picket at Sawyer's Swamp. We passed the great Bethel, and after marching about one and a half hours we were halted at Little Bethel, where we made up our fires and stationed our swords. Now while I am writing, my relief is on their post. It is now eleven o'clock. The moon is shining beautiful, and we are all comfortable fixed. Some are asleep, and some sitting around their little fires. We are in four and a half miles of Newport News. I do not think that there is any prettier country than this. The soil is gray and is very fertile. After my relief came off, I went to bed and slept very well under my little pine bush shelter.
Annotations
27. "27th is my birthday." James T. Rogers' birthday was August 27.
28. H.G. Horton. Horace C. Horton (his middle initial was "C") enlsited at age 30 on April 15, 1861. Records indicate he was discharged that fall, on September 17, 1861, because of a disability.
29. "chaplain." The chaplain was John C. McRae, appointed in August 1861 and serving until he resigned the following October. No replacement would be appointed until April 10, 1863.
30. Geo. Leach. George T. Leach enlisted at age 24 on April 15, 1861. He was appointed lieutenant and transferred to Co. C, 53rd Regiment, North Carolina Troops, in May 1862. George was the brother of Captain John S. Leach and surrendered at Appomoattox Court House on April 9, 1865, after a checkered career as lieutenant.
31. "Golster point." Gloucester Point, Va.
32. Morris. William J. Morris enlisted at age 20 on April 15, 1861, and died later that fall of consumption, on October 13, 1861.
33. "Tonight, the Sheriff of Chatham N.C. was with us." Rogers records this date as October 26, 1861, though it was listed in the sheriff's diary as being two days later, on October 28. The sheriff was accompanied on his trip by W.D. Tyson and Harris Tyser.
34. 3rd. Lieut. Rogers was defeated for election by Leonidas John Merritt, who would be killed in action while leading his company in the July 1, 1862, Battle of Malvern Hill (Va.).
35. Levi Rogers. Levi Rogers enlisted at age 28 on April 15, 1861, and was transferred with his company to the 32nd Regiment, North Carolina Troops, on July 4, 1862. He was discharged just four days later by being a deputy sheriff.
36. E. Long. He enlisted at age 20 on April 15, 1861, and was wounded July 1, 1862, at Malvern Hill, Va. Long was transferred with his company to the 32nd Regiment, North Carolina Troops, on July 4, 1862, and was discharged one month later, on August 5, after providing a substitute.
37. A.G. Riggsbee. He enlisted at age 19 on July 2, 1861, and died in a Richmond, Va., hospital on May 2, 1862, of typhoid fever.
38. It is interesting that the old Negro wanted to be conveyed from Ft. Monroe, a Federal stronghold, to Yorktown.
39. Damm. Dam No. 1 at Lee's Mill was located on Warrick Creek, where James T. Rogers later would be wounded the first time, about five months later on April 16, 1862.
40. "ordered armes." This is an arms (rifle) position with the soldier at attention.
41. "non commissioned officer." Rogers was a corporal from July through December 1861, when he was promoted to sergeant through May 1862.
42. "old dominion pickets" refers to Virginia troops.
43. Col. Cobb's Legion. Troops from Georgia under the command of Howell Cobb.
James T. Rogers: His Civil War Diary: Part I
James T. Rogers: His Civil War Diary: Part III
Family Remembrances of James T. Rogers
