Monday, August 20, 2012

1862 August 21 Rappahannock River

[from the diary of Lancelot Minor Blackford]

Thursday.  Aug. 21/62--This day's close finds us bivouacked
on the banks of the Rappahannock River, i.e. if a post a mile
from the stream or thereabouts can be so called. Our
Division had the advance to day,so that though the
last to rest last night it was the first to be in mo
tion this morning.  We did not make over 8 or 10 miles
to day, but that was right quickly travelled.  We passed
Brandy Station at a very early  portion of the forenoon
came on speedily enough to a field a mile or two back
of the river where we halted for orders.  After a time
our two Parrott guns were ordered, as we expected to the
front to skirmish with the Enemy at the Ford below.
Some hours later the Napoleon was sent for.  This pro-
fitless skirmishing was kept up all day pretty much
with small loss on our side--none in our battery
--and nothing accomplished on either, as usual.
Our six-pounder was not ordered up to the front
at all so I spent the day quietly lying in the am-
bulance reading a novel. to night our detachment
spends apart from the battery in the field where we
first halted.  The day has been a tedious and anxious
one. The country passed through this morning shews
many indications of the spoilation of that thieving brute Gen. Pope.

MSS 5088

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