1862 August 5 Camp Green Meadows

[from the diary of Charles Hay of the 23rd Ohio, Co. H]


                                       Camp Green Meadows, Aug. 5th,
     From the length of time intervening
between each entry of this diary for the
past month, and the uninteresting
contents therein, the inference is easily
drawn that but little noteworthy, has
transpired h with us of late.  A general
calm has prevailed in our pleasant little
community lately, and nought has
occurred to disturb the monotony, and
dispel that spirit of ennui which is an
unfailing companion when the mind is
unoccupied.
     This evening a man was brought to
the Hospital, having received a contusion in
the face, from having a horse, which he
was riding, fall upon him, it being shot
by a concealed foe, supposed to be some
bushwhackers.  This man belongs to a
company of the 2nd. Va. Cavalry, stationed
a couple of miles from here on the
Blue Stone road, as an outpost.
This has occasioned some little

excitement and bustle amongst the
soldiers, and there is some speculation
as to what “coming events” might be,
as they are said to “cast their shadows
before,” the shadows, in this case, being
@ little more than usual preparation
and precaution.  Rumors may not
always be lies, and it may be, that
some venturesome and enterprising represent=
=tatives of Secession are somewhere in our
vicinity.  There are undoubtedly guerillas
about, and there may be a force of
the enemy not far from us.  It is
known that Gen. Heath’s Brigade is
in Monroe county, within a days
march of us, but not in sufficient
force to attack us in open fight, though
abundantly able to retard our advance
South, with the force now on Flat Top.
     This little bit of excitement has
a rather salutary effect, in arousing
many from an apathy, into which we
could not help fall, when quiet reigned supreme.
A sad event took place a while before
sunset this evening, the death of a young
man, Frank Burrell, from Diarrhoea,
it being, of short duration.  He had
been in Hospital but a few days.
     I am told he leaves a young wife
and child in Ohio to mourn his loss.
How many like her have mourned
the death of beloved ones far away,
who have pined away in camp, or have
been stricken down on the battle-field,
when in the prime of life.  These
are some of the mournful results of
this accursed and unnatural war.
     The Diarrhoea is not so bad in
camp as some days ago, gradually on
the wane.
     Weather warm, or rather, quite hot.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13925