1862 August 20 Rappahannock River

[from the diary of Ephraim A. Wood, of Co. C, 13th Massachusetts]



Wednesday  Aug 20th 1862

The number of troops on the march
yesterday was probably nearly a
hundred thousand.  The Wagon train
that went ahead of us was nearly
twenty miles long.  The troops are all
about us.  The Brigade is camped in
a space about half as large as
our Camp at Williams port used to
be  This morning I went to the Rappa
hannock river and had a swim.
About noon we fell into line (This
Regt) and marched across the Bridge
and took up our quarters behind
a little hill  two pieces of Artillery
came across.  The Rebels had made
their appearance at the edge of the
woods about a mile distant,
We have got a beautiful position
and one Brigade could keep a
whole army back (nearly) as there
a level plain of a [-] long
between us and the woods.  If any
attempt to cross. we could mow
them down by the hundreds,
We have Artilery still placed along the
north back of the river.   a little
skirmish took place a little before
dark by the Artileryists.  The rest of
the Brigade came across before
dark.  At night four Companies from
each Regt went on picket.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12021