1862 January 15

[from the diary of Z Lee Gilmer, Co. b of the 19th Virginia, the Albemarle Rifles]

Returned to Reg from
of Picket today after
having a very hard time
indeed. We left Post No 3
yesterday (14th) for No 5. we
had to march over an
untroden road, for the
snow was some 4 or 5 inch
deep & quite cold. did
not reach No 5 until
near night, relieved the
5th S Carolina. the
most dirty ragid set
in service. They bear
a very hard name every
where they go- more so
than any other state.
I got supper at Miss
Beaches with my friends
Wm Shepherd Dan Shepherd
Frank Goolsby & Wm P.
Hamner, we had to go a
mile through woods &
snow & after dark and
still snowing to get to
the house. we got a mode-
rate supper for soldiers.
Goolsby & I chat[t]ed the 3
"gals" one I called Maj
Mollie she is a plump
one & full of fun. after
while we returned & built
up a fire & slep[t] the rema-
inder of the night beneath
a brush hut rudly put
up it snowed, hailed, rained
& sleeted all night & all
of today. I never saw
a worse day & we had
to march six long
miles to camp wet, cold &
hungry over awful roads

MSS 4459