420 Southern Historical Society Papers.
the depot for want of transportation. I alway let my headquarter wagon go to help haul them out. The State is also trying to get vegetables to her soldiers. Governor Vance now has a large quan- tity of sorghum lying at Greensboro' awaiting transportation. He says he is willing to send his " tar-heels " a great many things to help along, if they will only furnish him with the requisite transpor- tation. I really believe the North Carolina soldiers "fare better than any other in this army, as much as some ignorant people are disposed to laugh at the "Old North State." The commissary sometimes issues us cooked beef, prepared and canned in London. The soldiers call it " The London Times," and are very fond of it. It makes an excellent hash and is superior to any other meat-ration that is issued.
- * The mantle-piece adds very much to the appearance of our
sitting-room. Some of the saw-dust walks have been finished and our stables were completed to-day just in time for the snow. " Old Jim" and the rest of the animals are, no doubt, very thankful, as they, like the soldiers, have been on very short rations for several days past. When not sitting before a nice fire I enjoy myself now in royal slumbers on our French bedstead, which is filled with clean, fine straw, covered with an ample supply of blankets.
An officer in the Thirty-third played an amusing joke on a fellow officer of the Thirty-seventh not long since. Norwood, upon whom the joke was played, is the same gallant young officer that escaped wounded from the Gettysburg hospital, disguised as an overgrown Dutch boy, and when taken to army headquarters, General Lee invited him to breakfast in his ridiculous suit. * *
XIX. NEAR PETERSBURG, April i, 1865.
- * There was fighting on the right yesterday and the day pre-
vious. I am told that we drove the enemy, but have not been able to learn any of the particulars. Colonel McCreary, of McGowan's brigade.Uhe same officer that occupied the room with Lieutenant Lane at me hospital last summer, was killed yesterday. Lieutenant- Colonel Croft, of the same brigade, lost a little toe, and Colonel Ashford , of Scales' brigade, was also wounded. Day before yester- day both artillery and infantry fought while it was pouring down rain. There is some skirmishing this morning. My brigade is stretched along the lines all hoping that we will be allowed to remain
