Wednesday 1st March 1865
Started at 11:00. We marched with the wagon train today. Crossed
Lynch River at dark. Camped 2 miles from the river. We crossed on a good bridge that the
Rebs forgot to burn.
Thursday 2nd March 1865
Started at 9 in the rear of the wagon train. Marched 6 miles and
halted. The 1st and 3rd divisions had to build a bridge across a creek so our division
went into camp. Our foragers didn't come in today so we haven't anything to eat but corn.
Friday 3rd March 1865
Left camp at 9. We were in the rear of the wagon train. The roads
were very muddy. Went into camp near Chesterfield C.H.N at 11 PM.
Saturday 4th March 1865
Started at 7, the 149th in the advance guard position. Marched about
8 miles and camped 3 miles from the Pedee River. We are marching along the state line
today.
Sunday 5th March 1865
We lay in camp all day. The 14th Corps marched past us and commenced
laying their pontoons across the river.
Monday 6th March 1865
Started at 11 and marched about 10 miles down the river to Cheraw.
The 15th and 17th Corps had captured the town yesterday with 17 pieces of artillery, a
large amount of ammunition and seven trains of cars which the Rebs had sent up from
Charleston. for safe keeping. We staid in town three hours while the wagon train was
crossing the river. We crossed the river after dark and after marching 6 miles through the
mud we camped at 1 AM.
Tuesday 7th March 1865
Started at 6 and marched 12 miles and camped at noon. We passed and
fired two turpentine distilleries which made guite a smoke.
Wednesday 8th March 1865
Started at noon. Our division in the rear. After marching about 2
miles we came to a large mud hole where we had to wait until dark for the wagons to cross.
Marched 7 miles further and camped. The 149th on picket.
Thursday 9th March 1865
Started at 7 with the 2nd Division in the rear. Our Regiment guarded
the pontoon train. Itrained hard all day and the roads were very muddy. Marched 8 miles
and camped for the night.
Friday 10th March 1865
Started at 7. We crossed the Lumber River and a large swamp which
the heavy rains had overflowed. Marched 6 miles today.
Saturday 11th March 1865
Started at 6 with the 149th in the advance guard position for the
Division. The 2nd Division guarded the wagon train while the 1st and 3rd Divisions went
on, expecting to meet the Rebs at Fayetteville. We marched 1 mile today and camped 12
miles from Fayetteville at 4 PM. The 149th went on picket.
Sunday 12th March 1865
Started at 11 and camped at sundown two miles from Fayetteville. The
14th Corps had captured the town this morning. A mail wagon was sent from Fayetteville to
Wilmington. We were halted by the side of the road and were given 5 minuets to write. This
is the first chance we have had to write in six weeks.
Monday 13th March 1865
Started at 2 PM and marched through Fayetteville and crossed the
Cape River on pontoons, the Rebs having burned the bridge. Camped at sundown three miles
from the river. [letter]
Tuesday 14 March 1865
We lay in camp all day. Nearly all the negroes and refugees that had
followed on our march were sent down the river to Wilmington today.
Wednesday 15th March 1865
Started at 9, the 3rd Division in the advance. We marched up the
plank road leading to Raleigh about 3 miles and turned off a road leading to our right.
The 1st and 3rd divisions kept on the plank road leaving all the wagon trains with our
division. We marched about 10 miles and camped at 4 PM. Four Regiments of the 3rd Brigade
were sent down to Black River where the Johneys were supposed to stop us from crossing.
Rained hard all afternoon.
Thursday 16th March 1865
Started at 9 and marched until we got to the river. The Regiments
that were sent down to the river were skirmishing all night with the Rebs, but they left
in the morning. Camped 3 miles beyond the river. It rained hard in the afternoon. The 14
corps and the 1st and 3rd Divisions had a severe fight with the Rebs at Averysboro. Saw
peach and apple blossoms today
Friday 17th March 1865
We lay in camp all day. Some of our empty wagons and ambulances were
sent off to carry the wounded of the 1st and 3rd Divisions to Fayetteville. The 3rd
Brigade Foragers were sent along as wagon guards.
Saturday 18th March 1865
Left camp at noon. The 3rd Brigade in the rear. Got into camp at 11
PM. the roads were very muddy.
Sunday 19th March 1865
Started at sunrise and at noon we heard heavy cannonading in the
direction of the 14th corps. We marched about 12 miles and camped at dark. The 149th went
on picket.
Monday 20th March 1865
We were relieved from picket at one this morning by the 2nd Brigade,
and started to join the rest of the Corps, which had been fighting the Rebs yesterday
afternoon. We marched about 10 miles and joined the Corps at daybreak. Our Division lay in
reserve at the rear of the others.
Tuesday 21st March 1865
The 149th was detailed to guard the ambulance train loaded with
wounded going to Goldsboro. Started at 10 o'clock and after marching about 15 miles we
came to the 2nd Brigade of out division. They were guarding the corps wagon train. We
camped around midnight. It rained hard all the afternoon and evening. The roads were awful
muddy and rough. It was very hard on the wounded, a good many of them having to ride in
the baggage wagons.
Wednesday 22nd March 1865
We started back to join the division this morning. Took a back road
leading through the pine woods. After marching about 5 miles we heard that the division
was marching along the main road to Goldsboro, so we turned around and marched back to
where we started and camped for the night. The foragers came in with plenty of provisions.
Thursday 23rd March 1865
The division came along at 7. We marched about 8 miles, crossed the
Neuse River and camped for the night 5 miles from Goldsboro.
Friday 24th March 1865
Started at 7. The second Division passed in review before General
Sherman. We marched through Goldsboro. We went a mile beyond the town and camped for the
night.
Saturday 25th March 1865
Our foragers came in today bringing a lot of rations. We moved this
forenoon about a mile closer to the railroad.
Sunday 26th March 1865
The brigade camp was laid out this morning by Col. Barnum. The camp
was laid out in company streets. We have orders to build our tents four feet high, ten
feet long and 6 feet wide. Four men to a tent.
Monday 27th March 1865
Worked all day cutting and carrying poles for our tents.
Tuesday 28th March 1865
Went on picket this morning. Was on outpost. It rained a little in
the morning. Came off from picket in the forenoon.
Thursday 30th March 1865
Was in camp all day. Nothing going on. It rained all day long.
Friday 31st March 1865
The weather was warm and pleasant. Dress parade in the afternoon.
