The age-herald., 1898-01-30
LEAVES FROM
 SOLDIERS DIARY

BY ". c. WARD.

day evening. After having laid down and become asleep, we were aroused and marched short distance into the open field, stacked arms, lay down and again tried to sleep. The restorer came not at my bidding. We are today in line of bat tle God give us the victory if we must fight! There has been some skirmshing today. We were sent out to reconnoitre. We have advanced diagonally towards Suf- folk about two and half miles through the woods and by-paths. Four companies, including G, were sent out as scouts and skirmishers. A few shells have exploded not far off.
 The Second Day.
 There was occasional firing yesterday musketry and cannon; some few wounded. Our artillery moved to the front There was rumor that Gen. Lee had recrossed the Rappahannock, but not thought proba- ble. Last night the stiffness was disturbed by an occasional heavy gun; this morning the firing was more rapid Now and then there is burst of musketry-mere by-play noise without harm. We are under or ders. Our generals are making the inves- titure of the place. I suppose the 11th and Ed Mississippi are here. A few white clouds are floating westward specked with the smoke arising from the cannon The sun is shining pleasantly, and a light wind westward Be with us today, o God! We advanced our line about mile the picket line remaining the same. There is ru- nor that gunboat is aground.
 April 18th.
 Last night the sky became overcast and a slight rain set in. We cooked three days rations. This morning rain Is still falling. The prospect is good for a long rain. We were awakened by heavy fir ing from the gunboats The regiment is under orders.
 Fourth Day of Siege.
 We crossed Cahoon creek on the 18th and are now occupying a bend of the river. Lieut.. Billingsley came yesterday Last Lieut.. Bfllingsley came yesterday. Last in the night we were aroused by some gum boats below; they sent up rockets blew the whistles and fired guns. We were informed by a message from Gen Lee that our pick cts were cut off. Scouts were sent out and have just returned stating that it was false alarm. There has been some firing between pickets which is waste of ammu- milton.
 It is now towards night We have had firing all day. On some parts of the line skirmshing has been rapid. One Yankee has done some very sharp shooting at us; two men at this station have been slightly wounded. The foe is becoming quite bold. There are at least two new redoubts for cannon bearing on this point.
 Beautiful Sunday.
 hiS 10 kouhudy, dIu d ilOSC Qdy it has been. Notwithstanding the terrible cannonade going on continually it has been a pleasant day to me. I always feel grate- full for such a day. There is so much beauty in life. Our batteries and the gum boats are doing rapid firing. Why this waste of life and labor?
 Heavy Canonading.
 The heavy cannonading yesterday amounted to something after all About dusk loud cheers were heard in the dis tance toward Fort Hughes. The intelli- gence soon arrived that Companies and B, Forty-fourth Alabama, with five pieces of artillery, were captured by the Yam kees We were kept under arms all night, very foolishly. The pickets at the fort were without support. After smelling the fort for some time, the Yankees marched to the rear and captured the infantry and