THE CIVIL WAR DIARY OF JOHN G. MORRISON 1861-1865

Nov. 16th,, Wednesday.
boots.
Wrote to my wife for a pair of
Nov. 21st, Monday. Sleeting and hailing all day. Awful
cold and uncomfortable. Was put on guard. Received two
letters from home which were very welcome as it was almost
two [days? weeks?] since I had had any. One of the letters
contained $5.00 and eight post stamps. Also two papers
came to my tent at 8 P.M. and [I] did not return to the
guard any more.
Nov. 22nd, Tuesday. A cold nor-west wind blowing down off
the heights which rendered Pleasant Valley a misnomer. Got
an axe and into the woods I went. Built a fire and stayed
all day. In the afternoon, split logs to raise the tent
and backed them up.
Nov. 23d, Wednesday. Weather moderated considerable, the
sun shining out quite warmly. Drew horses to mount the
[24] 22nd N.Y. Cav. Towards evening, orders came for us to
leave tomorrow.
Nov. 24th, Thursday. Thanksgiving Day. Was roused out
before daylight to draw equipments. I drew a saddle and
blanket, horse brush and curry comb, having turned my
others over to Capt. Headly, Co. E. During the forenoon,
drew horses, I getting an old sorrel which I think must
have been an undertaker's horse, he is so slow. Got into
line about 4 P.M., and after an inspection which lasted
three hours, we started for Harpers Ferry. Whilst crossing
the railroad track, my tentmate, Snyder came near being
killed as the engine came along(it being intensely dark)
and ground his horse all to pieces. He by good fortune
received only a slight hurt. This occasioned a long delay,
so that between that and our stoppage by the guards and
pickets, it was after 9 P.M. before we got clear of the
town. We rode over the Bolivar Heights, and about 10 P.M.
we passed through Hall Town on the road to Charlestown. We
stopped at 10.30
[25] P.M. We fried some pork and eat it, and Jem and I turned
in by the foot of the oak.
Nov. 25th, Friday. Out before daylight. Got some coffee
and meat cooked. Saddled up and off by about 7 A.M. About
8, passed through Charlestown, which is quite a nice town.
Saw where John Brown was hung. After passing through, we
turned to the left and took the "pike" for "Berryville,"
which place we reached about noon. Leaving it on our left,
we took the road for Winchester, where we arrived about 4
P.M. After considerable marching back and forth, we tied
up in a piece of woods, had a good supper, and turned in
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