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

nothing to eat all day. Had one halt this side of
Strausburg where we fed.
Dec. 8th, Monday. At work all day on the shanty, building
[28] a chimney and quarrying stone. Got her up [and] going
before we stopped. Draws bully.
Dec. 6th, Tuesday. Another scout today. 44 men from
Comp.A and 10 from this, Lieut. Holcomb in command. Left
here about 10 A.M., Jemmy being one. About 7 1/2 P.M., a
few of [them] came back with their horses all blown and a
dismal yarn in their mouths. They went to "Morgan's Ford"
on the Shenandoah. A few crossed and captured one man, and
ten horses recrossed in safety, but about two miles on the
road home they were attacked by a party of Rosser's Cavalry
and three killed, one, the Lieutenant, wounded, and thirtyfive
taken prisoners. Jemmy amongst the number, he having
a bad horse. Our company losing seven men and A Co. 28.
The camp is all in an uproar about it.
Dec. 7th, Tuesday. A scout of 100 men went to the scene of
yesterday's melée but found nothing except a few wounded
horses and the Lieut. at a farm house stripped naked, they
(the rebs) having taken all his clothes and valuables from
[29] him. Found the dead and buried them.
Dec. 8th, Thursday. I was detailed for a scout this
morning along with nine more from this company. Went to
Ashby's Gap and passed down along the river about five
miles. Saw plenty of rebs but they did not venture on us.
Came home by the scene of the fight. Saw nothing. Came
through White Post and down the Front Royal pike to camp,
where we arrived about 4 P.M. Very cold as a keen norwester
is blowing. Found the shanty empty, as the rest of
the boys are on picket. Put on stable guard.
Dec. 9th, Friday. Received three letters today - one from
home three months old, one from Snyder, and one for Jemmy
Nolan from his sister. I opened it and found one dollar
and six post stamps, which I kept. Wrote to his folks on
account of his mishap. Came off guard at 5 P.M., not
sorry, as the weather is intensely cold. Lieut. Holcomb
died today from the effects of his wound. About 7 P.M.
began to snow very heavy.
[30] Dec. 10th, Saturday. About eight inches of snow on the
ground. Weather cold and uncomfortable.
Dec. 11th, Sunday. Out on a scout with Capt. Geer to the
Shenandoah River. Saw the rebel pickets and nothing more.
Got back about 5 P.M.
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