Marcella Sveine William Dischol Period 3

The Soldier Diaries of William Dischol

May 2, 1861

I have answered the call of the war. It was against Mollys wishes, but I told her this was my duty, to fight for a better life for me and my family. I sure will miss her and little William. I went to the recruiting early this morning. Even in the middle of winter, all the men in Dalton, Georgia were in attendance. I stood in a line where men took our names and age. William Dischol, 24 is what I had answered. The man just said to me Good to have you soldier. I was sent over to the uniform tent. A storm had hit that tent. Men were everywhere, grabbing every last pair of boots in sight. I had to fight a man for a pair that fit decently. I was then handed a uniform that stunk of death. Must be a hand-me-down.

May 6, 1861 This was the day I left for war. I was now a part of the 36th Georgia Infantry, company A. Molly was weeping at the sight of me in my uniform. Usually she is so strong in front of me and little William. Our family slave, Mable, assured me she would take care of them. I told Molly when I returned she would think herself a fool for cryin. After I left my home, I went over to the barracks in town to report for duty. Right away, they took account of the number of men and then we started marching. We must have been quite a sight. As we marched through the streets people cheered for us, but all I could see was the swarm of gray uniforms all around me. Soon enough we were out of Dalton, heading along the country roads. It felt like we marched for days before we stopped to set up camp. I have not been accustomed to carrying such a heavy load, lugging around my supplies as if I were a horse. My knapsack consists of a blanket, haversack, a frying pan, a canteen and an extra tin cup along with the photograph of Molly. After we arranged our camp,

we were issued rifles. They called them Confederate Springfields. I now carry it across my soldiers with my ammunition stored in a cartridge box on my right. My feet are worn and torn from marching for days on end. Horseshoes have been nailed to the bottom of my boots to stop them from wearing down. I am truly a mule, marching along.

May 12, 1863 I feel soon we will see battle. Nothing but preparations has been the last weeks. I have bonded with these brothers-in-arms in this time period. I often wonder if I will see these men again after we have seen battle, but it is only a wondering. We are all aware of where we stand, in front of those Union rifles, but we aint looking down the barrel of that gun, we looking at the victory that is our future.

May 14, 1863 There has been talk in our camp of what has become of the homes of soldiers. It is being said that Feds are attacking Confederate farms and houses. I have sent a letter to Molly to see that this fate has not come to Dalton.

May 15, 1863 We are headed to battle. We are now under the leadership of General Alfred Cumming in his 3rd brigade. He tells us we have received word from General Johnston that they have located a column of some of Grants Union army. The generals plan to move to surround the soldiers. We took up the line of march that afternoon and crossed Barkers Creek by traveling the bridge. We were brought to a halt in the dark hours of the earliest morning. We were to prepare for action if need be. We stood as stone until the sun started to break on the horizon. It was around that time when the General saw the proximity of us to those Union soldiers. It was said to be no more than forty yards. Forty yards, I could almost smell them.

May 16, 1863 We received our orders to draw out and search for a different position to better our defense. Our left flank retreated into the woods about half a mile for a good

line of distance. We then had to build a picket line between us and the enemy camp. We were in thick woods here. There were sharp turns of all kinds at this new base, immediately winding back and forth. It would be almost impossible to see a man standing on the other side of that corner. General Cumming sat on his horse at the bend of our camp, watching for approaching Unions. And then they were on us. A sudden attack from Union soldiers came from the other side of our picket line. Those drive-in pickets and scattering shots had given no intimation to the enemy. The enemy had approached under the cover of a ridge parallel to our flanks. We could barely sense their presence a moment before. Not a shot was fired until they climbed over that ridge. A destructive volley of bullets flew through the air, engulfing the regiments that remained at the flanks. How wide was this column of attack. Unions who stormed through overlapped our brigades, relentlessly firing at will. I was continuously reloading my Springfield and then the only think I feared was running out of ammunition. I heard shouts and cries from the regiments to the right, but I could not think. I was gone and in place of my mind was that of a soldiers, who knew to do nothing

but fire a rifle. Heavy fire ceased and only the scattered remained. A blended force of Confederates had appeared from direction of Bartons bridge. We have retreated and are now search for the missing.

May 17, 1863 There are almost a thousand missing, dead or wounded. Never before have I seen so much carnage and I have never desired to. The regiments to the right of the battle field suffered the biggest toll when the Feds made it atop the ridge. We have started marching towards Vicksburg, Mississippi. We are told that General Pemberton has ordered all brigades to surround the city.

May 19, 1863 There have been skirmishes. Grants men have moved in closer, securing areas that protect the Feds from our fire. We are pushed further back into Vicksburg every step the enemy takes. Rations are starting to disappear the longer we are held up here. General Cumming, our general for the 2nd brigade led under Commander Stevenson, has situated us near Ft. Garrott, nearly the front lines.

We have dug our trench and each sit in holes three feet wide and about three feet deep. Now I await the war I know is coming.

May 22, 1863 The battle at Vicksburg begun precisely ten oclock this morning and has not ceased since. There is continuous fire falling on us from the Union line. They never rest, nor do we. We continue to hold them back. This is the time I began to fear what will become of me. Hope of seeing my family again is far away and unreachable in this forsaken place. Many of our men have run away, back to their wives and children and comfortable farms. Not I. I will not return to Molly a coward of war. If death comes upon me, I will go honorably.

July 2, 1863 The enemy still comes at us strong. Ft. Hill I hear is suffering damages from massive cannon fires. It has been no easier at our fort. The Union fires 20 rounds of shell at us through Howitzer cannons relentlessly. We fire our rifles openly

towards their lines, but not as great an effect comes from it. Our rations are dangerously low. The weather is just as unforgiving. This war never ends.

36th Georgia Infantry, comp. A

Work Cited:
http://www.sparksfamilyassn.org/protect/ConfederateSoldiers-GA.html http://www.civilwarindex.com/georgia.html http://www.battleofchampionhill.org/ http://www.battleofchampionhill.org/order.htm http://www.battleofchampionhill.org/history/cummings.htm http://www.civilwarsoldier.com/cws_confederate_soldiers.htm http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USACWvicksburg.htm

http://www.researchonline.net/gacw/unit87.htm