Note: This is one week’s worth of many diary entries of Octave Bruso, who participated in the Petersburg Campaign as a member of the 50th New York Engineers.1
Sunday May 22, 1864
Very warm. Marched all night. Arrived at Gunnell (Editor: unclear) Station at 11 A.M. Spirited (Editor: unclear) fighting about noon in the advance. Change of Direction. Parked at Philipo Store.
Monday May 23, 1864
Pleasent day. Got marching orders. Camped at Mount Carmel Church. Terrible artillery fighting on the North Anna River.
Tuesday May 24, 1864
Pleasent day. Marched all day. Arrived at Jericho Mills and fixed roads. Camped across the North Anna. Got marching orders at 11 ½ P.M. and marched all night.
Wednesday May 25, 1864
Pleasent day. Built a Bridge at Quarrel Mills on the North Anna. On Guard in charge of the whole guard. Got marching orders at 1 A.M. and the Hd Qrts left. Heavy rain towards evening.
Thursday May 26, 1864
Rain in the morning + warm the rest of the day. Left the Quarrell Mill at 10 A.M. for Jericho Mills. Wrote to my wife.
Friday May 27, 1864
Pleasent. Left Jericho Mills at 3 A.M. for the Orange C.H. Parked at Hickory Grove. Marched 15 miles.
Saturday May 28, 1864
Pleasent day. Struck Tents at 3 A.M. and arrived at Hylett’s Ford (Editor: unclear) on the Pamunkey at 3 P.M. 20 hours without eating.
Source:
- “1864 Diary of Private Octave Bruso, 50th NY Engineers, Company E” edited by Tom Bauerle, Buffalo, NY, 2010. ↩