Greyback Diary: "A single wretched chicken..."

Monday, April 4, 1865, waiting near Amelia Court House

Again, we build breastworks and wait for an attack. We do not have the time or materials to construct decent works but there is no time to do so. Those of us who still have our bayonets to dig with are lucky. Where are our ordnance trains? We are desperate for ammunition.

About noon today, we came, or rather stumbled, into Amelia Court House. We were expectant of there being rations here but there was nothing. Foraging parties were organized, if that is the right word, to go out into there country and beg, borrow or impress (steal is too ugly a word) anything that could be eaten by man or animal.

We remaining Eights, numbering now six, formed one such party and went to the north as it was assumed that the Yankees were still mostly south of the Appomattox. Two cavalrymen of the Botetourt Dragoons rode ahead of us to warn us of the enemy.

Unidentified Confederate cavalryman.

We went through three farm houses before finding anything of sustenance. We found nothing, not even people, at the first houses and no one at the third but there was a corn crib. A single wretched chicken was pecking at an ear of corn but it soon disappeared into Terry's haversack with a squawk. We grabbed what little corn there was, two dozen ears, all gnawed on by previous visitors to the crib.

As we were leaving to go look for another farm house, the Dragoons rode up. They warned us that they had seen enemy cavalry further north and for us to go in that direction would be folly.

Some of 1st Mass. Cavalry.

3rd Indiana Cavalry.

Unidentified Union cavalryman.

We thanked them and parted company but before we did, we shared our corn with our gallant protectors.
We gave them three ears each. They promptly gave all but one ear each to their mounts.

Upon return to the Court House, we built a fire and consumed our fare. The corn was consumed raw for we were too hungry to wait to cook it. The chicken was divided amongst the six of us. It was so poor that after two bites, my share had disappeared. No one complained.

Once our feast was gone, the long roll was sounded. Their cavalry was seen to the north. Perhaps was the horsemen that our Dragoon friends had seen. Our orders were to build with all due haste a line of breastworks and be prepared to defend against cavalry. Thirty men, all that is left of B, D, and G companies were thrown out as skirmishers.

It is now after dark and their horse has not seen fit to try us behind our works. We have not seen anything.

I Send You These Few Lines

The Botetourt Dragoons were Company C of the 2nd Virginia Cavalry, raised in Botetourt County, Virginia. Most of the regiment cut their way out of Appomattox and avoided the surrender. For those readers not of the Virginia persuasion, the word Botetourt is pronounced, "bot a tot".

Lee's army can go no further without food. It was a crushing disappointment to Lee and the army both that there were no rations at Amelia Court House as were expected. Lee took a risk by halting at this place to send out foragers but there was little other choice. Lee used the time to obtain food for his men. Grant used the time to get ahead of Lee on his line of march.

Lee's army aren't the only ones trying to stay one step ahead of Union forces. Confederate President Jefferson Davis, his entourage and his escort left Richmond by slow train on April 2.