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

pleasant.
March 21st, Tuesday. Came off picket at 10 A.M. Received
[62] a paper from home. Quite rainy. A scout of the thirteen
men went out under command of Lieut. Draper, the division
scout. Rainy and cold.
March 22nd, Wednesday. Answered Tom Gillespie's letter.
In the forenoon, a couple of scouts returned, saying that
they had been attacked and nine of the fourteen killed and
that they escaped by having good horses. A scout of 100
men were immediatly ordered to go and find out if it was
true. I was detailed as one. We started at noon. About
three P.M. we came to where the fight took place and found
one man killed and one mortally wounded. The rest were not
hurt but were all taken prisoners. We travelled over all
the surrounding country but got no track of them. We got
back to camp about 11 P.M., awful tired and sore.
March 23d, Thursday. Went on stable guard today. Warm.
March 24th, Friday. Came off guard at 9 A.M. Got ready
for an inspection, which did not take place.
March 25th, Saturday. Cold and windy. Went [on] brigade
guard.
March 26th, Sunday. Came off guard at 9 A.M. The night
was cold and windy. Had company inspection at 11 A.M>
[63] March 28th, Tuesday. Went on picket today, short of
rations. Stationed at the blockhouse on the "Berryville"
pike.
March 29th, Wednesday. All quiet last night. Came off
picket at 11 A.M. Rained through the afternoon.
March 30th, Thursday. Went on stable guard. Raining
heavily. Letters from home behind time. A heavy storm of
thunder, lightning, and rain about 8 P.M. Washed all our
dirty clothes today.
March 31st, Friday. Came off guard at 9 A.M., still
squally. Rumors of breaking camp floating around. No
letter yet.
April 1st, Saturday. Got ready for picket, then we did not
go. I then went on camp picket. Weather pleasant. Again
the regiment for general inspection, but it did not come
off. Drew all the horses from the second brigade of this
division.
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