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

Dec. 25th, Sunday. Christmas Day. Up bright and early
and, whilst saddling up, was imagining what kind of
Christmas
[42] morning the folks at home were having. Wished very much
that I was with them to enjoy it. Started about 9 A.M.
About 11, passed through the town of Jefferson, a nice,
tidy place. Rode all day without disturbance and came to
at night a couple of miles from "White Sulphur Springs," a
watering place of some note in Virginia previous to the
war, but nothing now remains except a huge heap of ruins.
Very hard to get wood where we bivouaced, so that it was
about 10 P.M. before I had supper ready, but it was good
when it came. Shook down some hay and turned in about 11
P.M. and so ended Christmas.
Dec. 26th, Monday. Was turned out at 3 A.M. and it raining
heavily. I was completely soaked through, as the water had
run under me as well as coming through from the top.
Before we got our fires going, "boots and saddles" sounded
- whew -there was some awful swearing thereat. Ten minutes
later, "lead out" and off we went through the driving,
chilling
[43] rain. Passed through "Warrenton," which looked dull and
cheerless enough, but it contains some of the best private
houses which I have seen in this state. We had the
advance. As Gene Torbert rode through, he was fired at out
of the window. Nobody hurt. Passed through "Salem."
Heard here that "Moseby" had been killed a few days before
by some of the 13th N.Y. Cav. (don't believe it). In the
afternoon, the rain stopped and a cold wind came up,
chilling to the very marrow. Did not halt until dark. I
was then detailed for picket. Dismounted, at which I was
mad, but no use. Had to go on the first relief. Came off
and hunted for Tom. Found him. He had a bully supper for
me to which I done justice after my twenty-four hours'
fast. Returned to my post and did not leave it. Took my
boots off for the first time in eight days, and it took
four hours to get them on.
Dec. 27th, Tuesday. Reveille sounded at 3 A.M. About 4
[44] A.M., three rockets were thrown across our camp, causing
considerable excitement as to what purpose they [were]
thrown. Tom got breakfast and saddled up, so that when I
came over about 5 1/2 A.M., everything was in readiness for
a start. About 6, we started, the morning cold and foggy,
our company being the advance guard. Strong flankers were
thrown out, as we could see the guerillas gathering on all
the hills around us. Came to the town of Paris, a poor,
miserable, dingy hole. Passing through the outer edge of
the town, our attention was drawn to several pieces of red
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