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

dispatched, as I had fourteen
hours without food. About 7
1/2 P.M., news came that we
had driven them from their
works and captured two pieces
of artillery from them, at
which the boys gave three
hearty cheers. I then got
some cornstalks and made our
bed, where in spite of the
increasing cold and our snow
bed, we slept comfortably
until
Dec. 23d, Friday. About 5 A.M., I turned out and soon had
a good fire blazing. Parched some more corn for breakfast.
Our loss yesterday was one man (killed in this regiment)
and several wounded in the 14th Pa. Cav. Our troops
returned
[40] from across the river, having driven the rebs to within 1
1/2 miles of Gordonsville, where they had a heavy force of
infantry (which came from Richmond that morning), which
compelled our boys to get up and get out. Right smart, I
reckon. About 3 P.M. we began to fall back towards Madison
Court House, and such awful travelling, men and horses
falling at every step. One of our company, "Ed Toole," got
very severely hurted. We were ordered to dismount and lead
our horses, but it did not better things much, and to make
things worse, the rebels were after us hotfoot. At last,
about 8 1/2 P.M., after sundry slips and slides, we reached
Madison Court House, tied our horses to a fence on the
street, and I started to look for some grub. Came across a
barrel of flour in a house, to which I helped myself.
Through the day I got some potatoes, so between them and
[41] the flour and some good shoulder, Tom and I had a feed
royal. I also found piles of tobacco, so that I wanted for
nothing. We made our bed on a pile of cornstalks and
turned in about 11 P.M. and slept good.
Dec. 24th, Saturday. Reveille sounded about 5 1/2 A.M.
Started to bake some cakes. Before I got through, "boots
and saddles" sounded and a few minutes later "lead out,"
so there was nothing for it but to throw out my batter, for
which I prayed some. Rode out and formed in line. Stood
in line a few moments, then ordered to dismount, which we
did, expecting to go every moment, but did not get off
until near noon, when we headed towards Culpepper. Could
hardly travel, it was so slippery. About 6 1/2 P.M.,
halted in a woods near "Pixieville." Soon had a good fire
going and then a [illegible] supper, after which we turned
in for a snooze.
144