DIARY OF LEVIN KIT GAYLE
A Sargent in the Portsmouth Rifles
The following diary was kept by Levin
Kit Gayle from the 8th of March 1862 until he was captured at Gettysburg. All of the
spelling is original with additions in ( ). Levin kept a running diary without much
punctuation so the reader must add the required pauses and stops where necessary. The shown image is either Levin Gayle or a relative John Gayle of the 16th Va. Inf.
The 8th of March, 1862 the great Naval engagement between the Merimack and the Frigate Cumberland at the mouth of the James River.
Scenes of a member of Co. G, 9th Va. Reg Infantry commensing April the 20.
March to Deep Creek from Portsmouth. 11 miles.
21 South West locks
22 South Mills
23 Camden C. House
25 Renean Church
26 Rifle Pitts on Pasquetank Riv.
(May)
4 of May started to South Mills
5 Deep Creek again
6 to Portsmouth
10 Evackuated the town and left our homes to the enemy.
11 At Suffolk
12 at Weldon N.C.
13 Leave for Petersburg reached it in the evening camped in a church until the
15 went to Duns hill. Stop here until the 29.
(29) start for Richmond sleep in the Capitale square.
On the 30 start for Sevenpines.
31 Fight commensed at ten minutes past 2 Oh clock. Sleep tonight on the Battle Field among the Dead and wounded. I begin to think this looks like war.
(June)
June the First Sunday engaged this morning. Lost one member several wounded fall back tonight.
On the 5 moved to Yorke R Road remaine here untill 9
9 march down the Charles City Rode.
July the First – Malvourn Hill Fight commensed about 4 Oh clock. Henry White and Mebso Fisk killed.
The 4 (July) following the enemy down to Berkley.
On the 11 at fallen creek. Lef camp started for Louisa C.H.
On 16 arrived here about 11 Oh clock at night
19 Commensed marching
21 crosed Rapidan River 3 Oh clock at Sumerville Forde. Camped at Stevens Burge two spies hung here.
On 22 and on the 23 at Brandy station Welfords Farme
24 Jeferson town
25 on picket at Warrenton springs
26 heavy skirmishing acros the River
27 at Salem
28 White Plaines
29 on the rode to Manassas pased Hay market
30 in line of Battle and the fight has commensed
31 engaged but very lucky the enemy routed Lewis Whitfield badly wounded
(No entry for August)
(September)
Slept the first – Commensed marching on the 5 pased through Leesburg
6 crosed the Potomak at 2 Oh clock
7 at Recker town Maryland
8 at Fredrick junction
9 destroyed the Bridge
10 pased Fredrick City and pased through Farmville and Middleton
11 on the march 12 and Brownsvill
On the 15 captured Harpersferry and about 12000 prisoners
On 16 crosed over to Virginia on the pontoon Bridges
17 forded the Potomak at Shepardstown the Battle of Sharpsburg has commensed
On 18 on the Battlefielde
19 Retreated and crosed the river
20 at Charlestown Va.
21 Bunkerhill
23 at Martinsburg
27 at Bunkerhill again
28 at Winchester
On the 30 marching made 28 miles
On the 31 pased through Frontroyal
November the first past through Flint Hill and forded Hasel Run
2 camped near Culpepper C. House
3 in camp
On the 4 transferd to Picketts Div.
21 marched crosed the Rapidan at Rackoon Forde on our way to Fredricksburg
12 on the rode
23 marching yet 24 came to Camp on the Telegraph rode near town
25 in camp
December the 11 the Battle commensed about daylight. Yankees crosing the River some sharp fighting
12 still in line of Battle and the enemy in our front. It is a great sight to witness they are in force and it is a beautifull day and the boys seem to be eager for the fray more so than I ever saw them and they say they will fight
On the 13 the general fight has commensed it has been heavy and the enemy repulsed at all ponts with heavy loss and Burnsides and his Ballon is gone down it done him no good as the sun went down his army fell back and the smoke cleared away and all is quiet but the groans of the wounded are now and then heard with that exception it is as still as death tonight. There is a great northern light to be seen we wer on the Front until 11 Oh clock. Relieved then went to camp.
On the 15 moved camp near the telegraph rode and remained here until 27 then moved to Guinea station on the Richmond and Fredricksburg Rode.
Ending of 62
February the 15, 1863
Sunday marched from Guinea station raine all day and mud a plenty
16 Snow all day and marched 30 miles in two days
18 at Hanover Junction snow and water A plenty and hungry as the Devil and nothing to eat
Thursday the 19 camped at Stuarts Farme five miles from Richmond up to our ankles in water all night never saw it raine harder in my life we have no tents and cant get our fires to burne. It is harde times but we make the best of it. No sleep tonight again
Friday the 20 passed through Richmond in colum order and made a fine desplay and wer complimented highly as being part of the Army of Northern Virginia and Longstreets corps and for the many victories wun and many other deeds in defence of all thet is dear to us. Camped at Manchester 5 nights.
21 in camp 22 marching camped at Chester Station on the Richmond and Petersburg rode good weather
23 Lieut Wood received his dismisal
24 still in camp woke up this morning and found the snow ten inches deep and colde
25 at the same place and up to the First of March then started through Petersburge. Camped three miles out side of town and here we are up to the 26 of March then took line of march for Suffolk went 6 miles and camped.
on the 27 marching yet 28 came to Ivor Station and camped near Blackwater River.
April 3 went to Proctors Bridge on pickett duty
On the 5 at night snow until morning and colde
On the 9 started marching . 10 past Franklin on the Seaboard Rode. 11 went over the river at South Quay it is fine weather
12 on the Sumeton road in sight of the enemy at 12 oh clock
On the 13 our Brigade in line of battle moving to the front and driving the enemy in his entrenchments. Our loss three wounded none killed in my regiment. Company in good luck as usual fell back two miles tonight and camped.
On the 14 in line of Battle again and heavy skirmishing in front all day
15 in the same position until noon Co. G ordered on picket first half of the night.
On the 16 yet on the front at 4 Oh clock drove in the enemys pickets in sight of the town. Relieved tonight by the 11 and 15 Va. Regiments the later losing two men.
On the 17 again in our entrenchments and good weather
18 moved to the right on out post duty againe
19 in the same place heavy firing on the Nanesmond River
20 on picket in the same place
21 back to the Regiment 22, 23 & 24
26 went on the white marsh which is on the extreem right of our lines
27 Co. G thrown to the front on picket
28 Releaved all is quiet along the lines
29 Very warm working on our entrenchments
30 Raine all day and all is quiet on the lines today
Sunday the 3 Co. G on picket it is a beautifull day we fall back tonight to Blackwater River started at 8 Oh clock got there about 9 the next day went thirty two miles before we stop the boys are all tired as for me am down and cant get up. We know the Battle of Chanselorsville is going on Tuesday
5 Started to a place caled Juresalem arrived there 5 Oh clock in the evening raining here verry hard here all night nothing to eat our wagons are on another road.
The 6 have to march to Middleville before we can get any rations. It is harde to have to march 22 miles with out and carry all you have to cover with and then make your bed on the ground think Reader for a moment of the hardships of a poor olde Soldier in Bob Lees Army
On the 7 marched 22 miles camped within 5 miles of Petersburg.
On the 8 went through Town rainy day camped three miles out side of Town on the Richmond pike.
On the 9 marching towards Richmond the Rebel Den. Camped at Rices Turne out 14 miles today and fine weather.
Sunday May the 10 stil in camp and some of our Portsmouth Friends came out to see us.
On the 11 General Jacksons remains arrived in town and it is sad news to us all.
On the 12 still in camp Gen. Jacksons remains carried to Lexington to day brother Nat and myself are in Town.
13 changed camp to Fallen Creek
14 in the same place
15 marching camped at Manchester
16 pased through Richmond at 9 Oh clock camped 7 miles out side of town.
Sunday the 17 marching came to camp 3 miles South of Hanover junction stopd here until June.
(June ) 3 started came 20 miles today camped close to Newtown in Kingwilhiam county and I have seen lots of prettie ladies they do look well and such yeling from the boys makes them stare at us verry harde.
4 off again camped close to Taperhanock
On the 5 commensed to go back to Hanover Junction finding none of the enemy after going 9 miles heard the yankees wer down here halted and waited until two Oh clock then moved on it being a false report – camped on the matsaponi to night came 20 miles today.
June 6 at one in the morning on our way to Eliotts Ferry but got orders to go back and turned to the right and after marching 20 miles camped manyohick Church in Kingwilliam Co. Heavy haile storme tonight.
On the 7 Sunday started this morning to Hanover arrived at 12 Oh clock.
and at three started for New Bridge no sleep now for two days and nights.
On the 8 started for Culpepper C. House at half past 9 Oh clock halted at 5 Oh clock came 22 miles. It is dry and verry dusty indeed.
Tuesday the 9 started at 6 Oh clock stoped at four pased Good Hope Church to day and a plenty of cherries on the rode 20 miles and we hear Stuart is fighting the enemy at Brandy station we can here the artilery.
10 start at 6 Oh clock and crosed the Rapidan River at 3 Oh clock at Summerville forde halted one mile from the River and camped 20 miles to day.
On the 11 moved closer to Culpeper C. House close to Clarke Slaughter and Ceder Mountain.
12 at a new camp on the Railroad still nearer the town.
On the 13 still in camp 14 also the 15 started on our way again and the weather is as hot as I ever saw it we had 7 men sunstroke today and only marched 7 miles.
16 started at 6 Oh clock and at eleven crosed the Hazel River at one crosed the Thornton camped at Gaines crossroads at 4 clock marched twenty miles. A beautiful view of Cobs mountain.
17 started at five Oh clock at eight Our Gallent leader General R.E. Lee past along our lines amid deafning cheers of our division. The Olde man looks to be very warme but is as polite as usuell we are all satisfied when he is with us. At nine crosed Rappahannock river at twelve Gen Pendleton past we stacked arms and rested until two it is awful warme halted at half past six Oh clock at Freedmont starion on the Manasas Rail Rode 24 miles today
the 18 still on the rode camping at Ashbys Gap in the Blueridge mountain about 12 Oh clock in the day at three it comensed raining and hailing continued so all night I am on guard and so is Harvey. General Stuart is fighting the enemy at Uperville which is about five miles distance
the 19 started on our march at 10 Oh clock in the day at three past the town of Upervill at sunset past through the town of Snickerville on the East side of the mountain and crosed the mountain and camped on the west side rain all night verry heavy. At three ordered to march at 5 Oh clock but could not cross the Shanedore River it having swolen so last night after the raine. Started at one and went on top of the mountain and marched five miles came to a halt and made fires all ringing wet and it still raining verry hard in fifteen minutes off again down the west side of the mountain and crosed the Shanedore at Sheperds forde the water up to our armpits camped half a mile from the forde came 10 miles today.
21 took up line of march 2 Oh clock it is Sunday came four miles camped on the Winchester and Leesburge pike two miles from Kernsville. A.P. Hills core came up today and brother John came to see me this evening. Our cavlery is still at Upervill we draw fresh beef to day.
22 still in camp 23 also 24 resumed our march to day Gen. Longstreet past at 11 Oh clock. We past through town called Smithfield camped at 6 Oh clock on the Winchester and Martinsburg pike marched 23 miles today now at a town caled Darkesvill. Gen Lee is with us tonight.
25 started at four in the morning went through Martinsburg at 8 Oh clock crosed the Potomack at five in the evening now in Maryland pased through the town of Williamsport Gen. Lee and Longstreet pase us we camp one mile from town came 22 miles today.
On the 26 still on the rode my regiment Division guard pased through Heagers town at one Oh clock at five we entered Pennsylvania and pased through Middlevill and halted at Greencastle on the Pittsburg Railrode marched 13 miles today.
June the 27, 1863 started 7 Oh clock pased through Marion town 14 miles today pased through Chambersburg quite a large place and nice looking.
On the 28 in camp 2 miles from Chambersburg.
On the 29 moved camp one mile south of the town. On the 30 all is quiet and we are tearing up Railrode and visiting Pensilvanians and finde cherries a plenty.
July the First 1863 still in camp and driling three times a day just to keep us in camp and we here that Ewel is fighting the enemy at Gettesburg and we have orders to march at 12 Oh clock tonight and start on the Second at 2 Oh clock in the morning past through Chambersburg and take the Baltimore Pike and away we go againe pased through Hayettvill at 10 Oh clock then through the South Mountain and Cashtown and came within three miles of Gettesburge and camped for the night.
On the morning of the 3 caled up at three Oh clock in the morning and started for the Field of Battle and formed a line of Battle in front of Cemetary Hill and the enemy are in our front verry plaine. At 9 Oh clock General R.E.Lee A.P. Hill George C. Pickett are pasing up and down our line and we hav been tolde what to do that is to Charge that Hill and take those cannon . About one in the day we are all ready there is a great deal of Artillery here with us and it dose look Beautiful all in an open Field and a clear day and sun shines Beautiful and we are moving under a storme of shot and shell and many of our brave boys hav fallen. At one Oh clock our bateries opened fire on the enemys works and after two hours shelling we charged the works and tak a section of them and hold them 20 minutes and then the first thing that I knew they had me hemed up and carried me to the rear where I remained until 12 Oh clock at night then we started to Westminester a town in Maryland we get here about One Oh clock in the day on the fourth of July 1863. Stop here untill two Oh clock on the 5 and get on the cars and then to Baltimore stop at Fort Mc Henry until the sixth then start to that Hell on Earth caled Fort Deleware.
Oh what a place
THIS PORTION WRITTEN AFTER LEVIN GAYLES RETURN TO PORTSMOUTH AFTER THE WAR.
You have not said anything as regards your imprisonment at Point Lookout.
I presume your fare was hardtack for port and bean soup.
I find I have kept a good history of the war, better than Pollards. I think I will follow it for a support, it pays better than bricks and morter and I am sure the business is more respectable besides it will be so pleasant to see my name in print.
“A book is a book even if there is nothing in it”
Levin Kit Gayle
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