Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 26.djvu/27

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Diary of Captain Robert Emory Park.
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boot, for new sword and belt. Arranged company muster and payrolls. General B. G. gave me $50.00 for the company.

Sept. 2 and 3. Paid Sergeant Clower $10.00 for purchases made by him, and sent $36.00 to Major Vandiver by General Battle to buy clothing for company "F."

Sept. 4 and 5. Am officer of the day. Private Griffith, of company "E." married a girl near Orange C. H. It is love in low life. He brought his cara sposa to see our encampment and they were the observed of all observers.

Sept. 6. Rode my "Pintail" horse to Gordonsville.

Sept. 7. After inspection, Adjutant Gayle, Gus. Reid and I rode to Mt. Hora church to a protracted meeting. Paid $3.00 for a dinner of fat meat, beans and corn bread.

Sept. 8. General Pickett's division marched by our camp.

Sept. 9 The Second Army Corps, Lieutenant-General R. S. Ewell, composed of divisions of Major-Generals J. A. Early, R. E. Rodes and Ed. Johnson, was reviewed by General Ewell and General Lee. Lieutenant-General A. P. Hill and Major-General J. E. B. Stuart, and a host of others, gayly dressed generals were present. A number of ladies graced the occasion by their presence. Among them Mrs. Colonel Forsyth, of Mobile. There were 25,000 men in ranks. General Rodes' was the largest division. Colonel Pickens commanded Battle's brigade and Captain Fischer the i2th Alabama. While "Passing in Review" we had to march fully three miles, and reached camp about sun down.

Sept. 10. Appointed to drill companies "E" and "H," as well as "F," I am busy every afternoon.

Sept. 11. Lieutenant-General A. P. Hill's corps reviewed to-day.

Sept. 12. Went three miles from camp to dine at Mrs. Gilbert's. Had lovely apple dumplings. She loaded me with apples.

Sept. 13. Went to a soldiers' baptizing and saw eighteen or twenty "poured," or immersed in a mill pond. We have a rumor that the enemy are crossing the Rappahannock, and are told to be ready to meet them at any moment.

Sept. 14. The anniversary of my memorable skirmish at Boonsboro (South-Mountain), Md., where I was flanked and captured. We are ordered to Summerville ford, near Rapidan Station, where the Yankees are threatening to attempt a passage. Marched very rapidly and halted a mile from the ford. Our artillery kept up a heavy firing for several hours, and had several men killed. Captain Carter's battery can't be excelled.