Text set / Henry O. Nightingale diary, 1864

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Poor Richard's reasons for buying United States' securities [16]

Enclosure: "My Bible"; "Evening brings us home" [17]

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Title: Facing pages [126-127]
Date Created and/or Issued: 18640505-18640506
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Transcription: Early this morning received [order][to] rejoin our respectivs regts when [we] found the [camp] it was empty the Corp had moved on. Followed after it and overtook it at ten AM. contiuned our march until noon Spot [illegible] [service] when we were greeted by a M.S. [illegible] served thin ones [illegible] made [illegible] turn for a fight. of 2PM. turned and retreated as the Enemy was [in] [our] M.S. [illegible] when we rejoined the main Army the Battle was raging fiercly double quickened on four miles and soon became engaged at 4 P.M. We are in the 2d_line of Battle. we are ordered to advance which [is] done with a hearty [soul]. At five this morning we were roused from our [illegible] by the sig-nal gun ordering us to M.S.[llegible] on ad-vance we [illegible] and the rebels fly. But oh wat a M.S.[illlegible] of Bull surely my life is [illegible] [illegible]. Poor Cher Dixon M.S. [Illegible] shot through the heart. 5 mintues afer i came wounded in the shoulder and tood off the field after giving a sheel by [illegible] [for] some time. the Rebels dried over. Mine [illegible] me and [I] amd [illegible] [illegible] 8AM our [illegible][illegible] [illegible] the [government] [illegible]. and I [am] [illegible] [illegible] in the [illegible] lives [illegible] [illegible] kindly help to the [no] off the field. are stars but I am so faint and have to ------------------------------ May 5, Thursday. Early this morning received orders to re-join our respective regts. When we found the camp it was empty, the Corps had moved on. Followed after it and retook it at ten a.m., continued our march until near Spotsylvania where we were greeted by a shell, received other ones, gamely made preparations for a fight. At 2 p.m. turned and retreated as the enemy was in our rear. When we rejoined the main army the battle was raging fiercely, doubled quicked over four miles and soon became engaged at 4 p.m. Were in the second line of battle, we were ordered to advance which was done with a hearty zeal. [4.] May 6, Friday. [Brock Road area near the Orange Plank Road and Turnpike – somewhat east of Wilderness Tavern] At five this morning we were aroused from our rest by the signal gun ordering us to again advance. We start and the rebels fly but oh! What a storm of bullets, surely my life is charmed, poor Chas. Dixon falls shot through the heart, 5 minutes after I am wounded in the shoulder and start off the field, after going a short distance was knocked down by the concussion caused by a shell, lay insensible for some time, the rebels drove our men once more and I am left. 8 a.m. our men retake the ground back and I am once more in the Union lines, a drummer kindly helps to take me off the field. We start but I am so faint and have to [the line is unfinished – perhaps he had to be carried?] [5.] Note: 4. The Second Corps had farther to travel to get into position, and, since they were the left of Grant’s line, had to swing in a SW arc to link up with the force crossing at Germanna Ford. However the battle started to the NW of the Second Corps and the Rebel forces threatened to cut off and isolate Hancock’s Corps so they had to re-trace their steps northward on the Brock Road and hold the junction with Orange Plank Road. 5. The Second Corps held on for May 5 and on the next morning launched an assault west along the Turnpike. They were driving the men of A.P. Hill’s Third Corps initially but were completely surprised and flanked by a powerful attack by Longstreet’s 1st Corps which caused a precipitous retreat. Either in the initial movement or after the flank attack the wounding of Nightingale occurred. Crooks, Terence G. “Transcribed and Annotated Diaries of Henry Oliver Nightingale.” Unpublished manuscript, 2014. Microsoft Word file.
Parent Item: Henry O. Nightingale diary, 1864
Contributing Institution: UC Merced, Library and Special Collections
Collection: Henry O. Nightingale diaries

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