Albert Underwood Civil War Diary

Dec. 16, 1864: We advanced our lines early this morning and commenced shelling their works with our battery, the 3rd Indiana, and the 2nd Illinois. The enemy had their batteries behind good fortifications. We kept up such heavy fire on them that they could not use their guns at times, but lay close behind their works. We ceased firing while the infantry were charging and they opened a heavy galling fire till our men got close to their works, scaled the wall and took their artillery and then swung the right and soon captured lot of prisoners. I stood on a high point and could see the whole thing. It was a grand scene indeed.

Dec. 17, 1864: It rained last night and is very disagreeable. We went over the battle ground this morning and hauled off a lot of artillery and caissons. a lot of ammunition wagons scattered over the ground. Some had stuck in the mud, some had run against trees, others had their horses shot down and had cut loose and left.

Dec. 24, 1864: We are at Buck River this morning, waiting for the 4th Corps train to get across out of our way. The Rebs have dumped some of their artillery in the river here in their hurried retreat. It has been a very disagreeable time since we started in pursuit of Hood. 3 pieces of artillery, a Bobman, a 10 lb. Parrott, and a 12 lb. Howitzer were hauled out of the river this morning.

Dec. 25, 1864: We laid over today.

Jan. 01, 1865: Left camp at 7 1/2 oclock. Had very rough roads till we came to the pike and then we had some smooth roads. Clear most of the day, cold and the ground frozen in the morning, but it thawed a little today. We marched about 17 miles and went into camp at 4 oclock today in about 1 mile of Waynesburg, county seat of Wayne county.

Jan 02, 1865: Left camp about 8 1/4 oclock. Nice day. Had good roads all day. The road run for several miles down Eagle Creek. A large amount of (??) run along the road. We reached Cliffton at 4 oclock and camped for the night. Marched 16 miles. A lot of boats here, town nearly all burnt.

Jan. 03, 1865: Rained last night. Loaded about 8 oclock. The 1st and 2nd Brigades of the 2nd Division loaded on boats and we started up the river at 3 oclock. Our battery is on the barge RAPIDAN and the 2nd Illinois on the barge PEERLESS and both towed by the N. Y. Bigley. We tied up 20 miles up the river.

Jan. 04, 1865: Waited this morning for more boats to come up. We remained here all day in about 12 miles of Savannah. Read the Snow Flake. The boats came up at 9 oclock tonight and we moved out soon after and run till about 3 oclock. Clear and beautiful day.

Jan 05, 1865: We passed Crump's Landing just after daylight and Pittsburg Landing soon after. Run quite slow. The HUNTSMAN fired into one of the 89th boys wounded (?). Tied up at Chichasaw Landing, Alabama, and lay up till morning. Rained a little this evening.

Jan. 06, 1865: Raining and very disagreeable today. Remained here all day. Snowed a little this evening.

Jan. 07, 1865: We moved down to Eastport this morning and unloaded and went into camp in the old town of Eastport. Fine day. We are quartered in a house close to our battery. 3 or 4 families are living in here now.

Jan. 08, 1865: Nothing of interest today. I am on guard today. The Alabama line on this side of the river is a few hundred yards from here. Bear Creek is the line.

Jan. 09, 1865: Raining this morning and continued all day. It has been very disagreeable today. Our brigade is building winter quarters here.

Jan. 10, 1865: Raining yet this morning and continued all day. Quite disagreeable.

Jan. 11, 1865: Nice morning. I went outside the pickets today in charge of team and squad and got a load of lumber and have fitted up quarters nice here for our mess.