2008-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2008
Handwritten diary ID'd to "Grief Lamkins Co. 'A' 18th Va. Reg. Irisburg, Henry County, Va." 140p. Pocket size, covering the period from March 6, 1864 until October 7, 1864, with excellent content, in a clear easy to read hand, pencil, it reads in part: "…[3/8]Soldiers at all times are looked upon as rowdies & treated as such - when they have plenty of money they can buy what they need by paying double what a citizen pays…[3/16] A private in Co. 'D' was today sentenced by a Ct. Mar. to stand upon a stump in a conspicuous part of the camp two hours each day for five days - to carry a heavy log two hours each day…to wear a barrel shirt two hours each day…for being 'absent without leave'…[4/1] Many pranks have been paid by soldiers upon each other today in commemoration of 'All Fool's Day.'…[4/7]I saw an ironclad gunboat in the river near town [Kinston, N.C.] almost completed, I think it ought to be ready in a few days…[4/10] stopped chewing tobacco to see how I could stand it…[4/17] I think that Genl. Corse must have been ordered to drive in the pickets towards Newbern & make a front in that direction while Gen. Pickett attacks Plymouth…[4/22] The gunboat has been completed a portion of the bridge has been torn up to give it passage…[4/25] Find I am smoking too much have therefore concluded to chew instead of smoking…[4/26] An application for exchange with J.R. Travis Co. C 5th Va. Cav. Same approved by all the Cav offs. And started up today approved by my Co. & Regimental officers. I think I'll get out of the 18th at last…[4/30] All of the forces of this place were reviewed by Gen. Walker…General Beauregard arrived this morning. I have not seen him but understand he has become quite gray..[3 Miles of Newbern 5/5/64] marched about 8 miles, to a block house, where the cavalry dismounted and went through the woods to a point near the block house without being seen, the artillery then went to the front & commenced the attack - after firing a few shots one or two of which were answered from the fort, the cavalry charged & routed the party without loss…Marched in direction of Newbern…when an ironclad from Newbern appeared in front of us…The ironclad commenced shelling us, but our batteries soon returned the fire…Our attention was more particularly directed to the gunboats…They shelled the woods indiscriminately, and their shells were so much larger than are usually met with on a battelfield, that it caused many old veterans to lie as low as possible…[5/6] Gen. During captured a small fort or blockhouse down the river yesterday - with sixty prisoners…[5/12] Heavy skirmishing commenced in our rear…The enemy had come in behind us, and were pressing close upon us…Ransom's Brigade, NC joined us on the left. There the enemy attacked, and a continued firing was kept up between them until dark…[5/14] During the night Gen. Beauregard with a Brigade of Inft. Some Cavalry & Artillery cut their way through the enemy's lines at Chesterfield C.H….with them came Lt. Col. Carrington of our regt. Who has long been a prisoner. His arrival was the occasion of much rejoicing in the 18th. He was received with great applause…[5/16]About 8 or 9 o'clock this monring Genl. Corse passed down the line telling us that we would soon be caled upon to charge the enemy…At the command we mounted our breastworks & received a volley from the enemy's line of skirmishers, which was replied to without stopping, killing nearly all the skirmishers, we then advanced as well as we could at 'double quick' through the felled trees to the enemy's line of battle, which had been concealed from us by the brush …here the volley's came upon us or rather over us thick & heavy but we make no stop & the enemy soon took to their heels in the wildest confusion. We followed them near a mile farther killing, wounding, & capturing a many…we had captured more men than we had men in our regt….I received a message from Maj. Cabell that he was badly wounded & wished me to come to immediately…but I remained till I saw Col. Carrington & he too told me to go to the Maj. I did so and found him severely but I think not dangerously wounded in the face…With the assistance of the 'litter bearers' I got him to the boat and before night arrived in Richmond…[5/29]Can't learn where my regt. Is…shall have to start to Lee's army tomorrow to hunt it up…[5/30]met with a Negro from the regt. He could not tell me how to find the regt…[6/4]In the evening of the 1st we received orders to march to the front (to the right of our position in the woods) to reinforce Genl. Hoke…Our regt was ordered at dark to relieve a Georgia Regt. That had been supporting Clingman's Brigade which had been driven from the breastworks…The enemy had massed a large force in the woods & turned the left flank of the NC Brigade driving it from the works. We were marched to the edge of the woods & formed at right angles to the works without any shelter from the fires poured into us, rather over us by the enemy…Although the enemy were not more than fifty yards from us only had about a half dozen wounded…During the day (Friday) I went to a position where I could see our lines for some distance, I saw where the enemy had charged our works in an open field & I don't think I ever saw the dead lie as thick on any field before as they were there. They had come in about 20 yds of the works & then been repulsed…Oh what a horrid, horrid sight is a hotly contested battlefield before the dead & wouned have been removed!…[6/5]Co. 'E' lost many wounded early this morning. At 8 o'clock AM the balls are still coming over us pretty rapidly…received orders to return to our Division…[6/16]our Co. was thrown out as skirmishers attacked the enemy's skirmishers & drove them back beyond our outer line of breastwork…[6/26] Col. Carrington sent in an application to Genl. Lee to permit the 18th regt. To mount itself, to operate against raiders on the Richmond & Danville R.R..[7/4] Grant failed to carry out the program laid out him by the Northern papers - that is to take dinner in Richmond…[7/8] A flag of truce was sent through the lines of the regt. To our right - the object was to send a letter to Genl. Lee…[7/25]Two men belonging to the 43d Va. Inft. Were shot in sight of our position today for attempting to get to the enemy. An offer came from Genl. Pickett to grant a furlough of 20 days to any that would bring in a prisoner by tomorrow morning. Several have been caught…[8/1]My long looked for exchange with one J.R. Travis of Co. 'C' 5th Va. Cav. Came to hand this evening…[8/5] Find the men more polite to each other & less selfish than in Infantry - But far more wicked…[9/19]we mounted & galloped through Winchester & turning to the right of the Martinsburg pike soon arrived near a point occupied by a position of our artillery and to our surprise found them rapidly engaged in exchanging shots with the enemy…dismounted - deployed & put in position…From my position I could see our sharpshooters being driven rapidly back until they reached the line of battle, then the tables were turned & the enemy commenced falling back more rapidly than they had advanced until they gained their former position in the woods when both seemed to maintain their grounds…Their line of battle was then about the shape of a horseshoe & my regt. Occupied a position about the toe. Our forces on the left of my position seemed to be giving away. We mounted & went at full speed about a mile to the left and charged their cavalry driving them back some distance when the 6th Va. Regt. Which was in our front - from some unknown cause took fright turned their heads & came rushing back upon us. When a general stampeded commenced…McCausland's command is said to have cause the whole route…[9/24]We traveled about 3 ½ miles and were turned back by a report that the enemy were advancing rapidly to meet us - we feel back a short distance to 'Springfield' and commenced fortifying to check them as long as possible - We had 3 small regiments, 5th, 6th & 15th - in all about 500 men. The enemy soon made his appearance in heavy force & commenced preparing for an attack…they advanced to our front & at the same time threw a heavy force on our right flank. We held our position until we had fired about 20 rounds & then were ordered to fall back. When we received these orders they had gotten nearly into our rear - the front we held in check. And when we commenced to fall back they commenced to charge…" Much more. Loose at binding, else VG.
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.