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

the foot of a hill, where we remained a couple of hours and
took the road for "Griggsville," where we arrived about
dark, after some of the worst marching that I ever seen,
the
[35] mud in some places being more than knee-deep for the horses
at times. We did not make more than a mile per hour.
Toward evening, the rain stopped and a cold wind blew up,
chilling me to the bone through my wet clothes. The horses
were almost used up, as we had nothing for them to eat for
the past thirty-six hours except some straw and corn
stalks. We bivouaced in a swamp - a cold, wet spot - but
as rails were hand, we soon had good fires blazing all
round us. After having some supper, we shook down some
straw and in spite of the cold wind managed to sleep
comfortable until
Dec. 22nd., Thursday. at 5 A.M., when we were roused out
to find the morning cold and frosty. Rode out about 6 1/2
A.M. Our brigade being on the advance, rode into "Madison
Court House" about 10 A.M. As we rode in, I [met] several
of the regulars coming out, loaded with food and forage,
they having "looted" several barns and meathouses. We
halted a few minutes in front of the Court House. I took a
look around and found it the most respectable-looking
[36] little place which I have seen in this part of Virginia.
We were soon off again over the slippery, icy roads, where
the horses were slipping and falling so that it was almost
an impossibility to get forward. After a few hours' ride,
we were ordered to trot up as the enemy was just ahead of
us. We did so, and we saw a few prisoners coming to the
rear, they having been captured by our scouts. They
belonged to "Mudwall Jackson's" command. As we rode along,
I saw two of them lying dead on the road, and I was told
there were several more of them lay dead in the woods. We
passed their picket fires, which were burning brightly, as
they had only left them a few minutes before. We did not
stop until we came in sight of the "Rapidan" at a place
called "Liberty Mills" six miles from "Gordonsville." As
we rose the crest of hill, they opened on us with a couple
of twelve-pounders from the other side of the river (then
the first shell came, I done some dodging in the most
approval style). We then filed off to the right under
[37] the hill, dismounted, and threw out skirmishers. It was
intensely cold, and we had to "stand to horse" all the
time. After remaining here a while, it came our company's
turn to furnish the skirmishers. The captain immediatly
called for every fourth man, and as it happened, I was
elected, so in company with nine more, I started towards
the river for the skirmish line. The bullets came right
thick whilst we were running down, but none of us got hit.
I crouched down behind a rail fence and watched for a
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