It is a guess that today is Thursday. I really do not what day or day of the week this is. I suppose that after this war is over, I shall have the time to associate with my comrades and between us, sort this out.
Our, "ambulance", has eleven soldiers in it. The poor horse is not long for this world. Upon its' expiration, it will be dispatched into the cook pot but what, then, of the poor sick and wounded?
After sunrise, we marched north and west in the direction of Farmville. We cannot properly call ourselves a, "column". The mass expands and contracts in length according to the motive power of the individuals.It resembles an accordion.
There are cavalry scouts flanking us on all sides. The horses look just as worn as the riders. Upon the reports of the scouts, we halted again and threw up some very poor breastworks. Someday, our children will be able to follow the line of march of this army by the works we build. And yet again, we heard a good deal but saw nothing.
We have been engaging ourselves in some very spirited speculation. Where are we going, we ask?
We high privates, although not being privy to the intelligence of the officers, have this question answered. We will join Joe Johnston.
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| General Joseph E. Johnston, commander of the Army of Tennessee. |
Once we join forces, the combined Army of Northern Virginia and Army of Tennessee will whip all H--l out of Sherman and then turn about to do the same to Grant. We just have to find Johnston. He is not supposed to be very far away.
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| Major General William T. Sherman. |
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| Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant. |
Not all of us hold open this hope that victory is still within our grasp. A good number believe that the game is up. This army, even combined, has perhaps the will but certainly not the strength to best Sherman or Grant. Why then, we ask, do you keep marching with this army? They all day that to leave would be desertion. Desertion is disgraceful and they will do nothing to disgrace their family or uniform. Their service to the cause has been honorable all during this war and they will end it honorably even at the sacrifice of their lives.
They will not desert this army because that would mean deserting our General Lee. He has stood by us and we will stand by him.
We hope and we pray that Johnston has an abundance or rations.
I Send You These Few Lines
Jefferson Davis and his party of fugitives are in Danville, Virginia.
Many in Lee's army, perhaps Lee himself, felt that Joe Johnston was close to the Richmond-Petersburg area. At the time of the fall of Petersburg, Johnston and his army were in central North Carolina, many days march away. Neither Lee nor Johnston could support one another until their armies were much closer.
Lee's army marches on. It's route is largely determined by Union forces which rush in to nip and tear at pieces of the army. Lee's army is indeed, dying by pieces as it moves in fits and starts, trying to hold back the hounds.
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