"The shells rain overhead."

Sunday, March 5, 1865, in the trenches

We all have been grumbling heartily, if softly, about the war, the weather, the starvation, and all things concerning this war. At no time have we heard anyone in our company express a desire to take French leave and desert the cause in any seriousness. On the twenty-fifth, there was a new moon. Three nights later, it was still mighty dark. We did not want to believe that one of our mess would or could commit such a dishonorable act, but Castles has done exactly that. Castles has deserted. Apparently, so has Troy Crenshaw. Wilson Crenshaw says that he knows nothing about this.

It is bad enough that Castles and Crenshaw have done this to their country. What is unforgivable is that they has done this to their comrades. Others have committed this act of treason and should they get captured, things will go hard on them.

Source: National Archives

Perhaps it was the shelling of the Yankee artillery. For some time their artillery has felt the need to exhaust their supply of shells. The shells rain overhead. Some are directed against us but not all. Sometimes. we hear the shell coming but is not bound for our address. We have gotten quite good at telling which shells will land on us and which will whiz overhead towards Petersburg. The Yankee heavy artillery is now within range of the city of Petersburg. Poor Petersburg.

Petersburg railroad station destroyed by artillery fire.

Petersburg home.

Abandoned Petersburg home.

The mortars are the worst and I do suppose that their mortars cannot reach the city. They certainly can and do reach us. The Yankees, using their mortars, can get around the protection offered by our works by dropping shells straight down on our heads. I hope we have mortars and can return the favor.

Union 13-inch mortar employed at Petersburg.

Petersburg mortars.

Some time has passed since this company has received any items of joy and comfort from the folks at home. Last week, a box arrived marked from our good friends of the Central Association. There was a letter from their president, Dr. LaBorde, calling upon us to stay the course until peace is conquered and our liberties secured. They were sweet words but we would rather that he would have sent a half-dozen hams instead.

Lieutenant Williamson gave the box to the corporals and allowed them to sort out how to share the contents fairly throughout the company. Corporal Flynn brought to us what he could and bade us to gather around. The event was interrupted several times by Yankee shells but we did not pay them too much mind. We were all hoping that there would be something to eat.

Some nice noble ladies contributed handkerchiefs. There were so many of them, I think everyone in the company received one. Flynn issued six pair of wool socks. I did not get any but Castles got one pair. A very few shirts and just one pair of trousers did we receive. Two of us, Terry and Vincent, were given Balaclavas and the rest of us were quite jealous. There was nothing to eat.

The last item that Corporal Flynn had was a piece of good, stout, rough wool cloth, dark brown in color. I have since sewed it to my blanket in order make my nights more comfortable. My handiwork must have been first rate for several of my cards have offered to buy it from me. Hancock offered me three hundred dollars, Confederate for it. I would not take a double eagle for it. When Spring finally arrives, I will undo what I have done and make a shirt out of the cloth. Or perhaps a better use would be to patch my trousers, which are quite windy.

A double eagle, the nickname for a $20 gold piece.

Castles, that swine, when he deserted, he took his new socks with him.


I Send You These Few Lines.

Desertion is now an epidemic within the entire Confederacy, not just the Army of Northern Virginia. Many desertions are not borne out by Confederate personnel records. As previously mentioned in a diary entry, during this time of the war, such records almost entirely disappear. Most of the desertions that I have been able to document come from Union records.

Rooms did not write of Samuel Gordon, of Tooms' company. Gordon deserted on February 28.

Mortars are unnerving to both sides. Mortars can fire their shells in such a high arc that no matter how much dirt is in front of you, there is little protection from shells that land on top of you. The 13-inch mortar pictured above used a 20-lb. powder charge to drop an explosive shell weighing 200 lbs on top of Confederate defenders. That's some headache. Union mortars did not have the range to hit Petersburg but heavy artillery did. The battery of 30-pounder Parrots pictured here, had a range of about 4-5 miles.

Union heavy artillery with enough range to shell Petersburg.

The Confederates used heavy artillery at Petersburg, too.

The Confederates used mortars during the siege of Petersburg. They were quite small compared to the ones used by the Union. This one pictured here, used a 1/2 lb power charge to shoot a projectile weighing just 24-lbs.

Confederate mortar at Petersburg. Note the, "Richmond Arsenal", ammunition box nearby.

That Tooms and his pards received any packages from the home front at this time is pure speculation. In previous diary entries, I have been able to document actual donations to the boys at the front. This late in the war, I am unable to find evidence of Company I receiving anything. What is in evidence in some sources is that the home front continued to provide material support to the front until nearly the very end. Unfortunately, there are no details as to which organization sent what supplies to what units.

The home front group Tooms refers to is the Central Association for the Relief of South Carolina Soldiers, Dr. Maximilian LaBorde, President. The field agent is Mr. Obadiah Pickle, who has appeared in several diary entries. The Central is one of the larger groups operating in the Confederacy for the support of Confederate soldiers.

The Central's report of operations for the period November 15, 1863 through November 1, 1864 details the supplies sent to the boys:

5119 cotton shirts
4410 cotton drawers
12639 pairs shoes
4615 flannel shirts
3605 pants
1676 jackets
6806 socks
595 hats

These items were shipped in 5629 cases of which 3824 went to Virginia. This report is the latest one found for this organization.

I believe that a majority of the readers of this blog (thank you for reading) have a better than average understanding and knowledge of the War Between the States. It will come as no surprise that this period for the Army of Northern Virginia, late winter/early spring, 1865, will be a very eventful time and will become more so the closer to mid-April it becomes. For the duration of this blog, there will be courage, sacrifice and honor. And blood.