Robert A. Bruce Diary
June 18 62.
R A Bruces Book
Presented to him by his farther
Miss Kate Lee Calvert
[faded]
[animal drawings]
Robt A Bruce Private in Com B 52nd Va
Reg has permission and is sent over to the seckond Va Reg to get me a sword and return as soon as it is possible
Camp 52 VA
Reg signe A T Thompson
Capt Com B 52 Va
[upside down]
If you would be willing for me to go with you to the Court House
Kate A. Lee Calvert
June 22nd 1862.
G A Bruce Page 2
George Rulieff
7th La Regt
In September or October
George Rulieff
Robt A. Bruce Esqr
Haynesboro Augusta
County Virginia
[upside down]
would you be willing to [?] with me [?] knight at the Court House if thear [?] fences and suit you
Jere and W Donelson 53
1862 Borrowed off G W Wright June 21 ten Dollars at Staunton Hospital $10
June 20 Borrowed off J B Trooms on road to Staunton at Newhope fore Dollars $4.00
Jack Terrells estimut of the fight commencing the 4th May
Our loss total 27 000 men
captured from the enemy 30 pieces of Artilery 40 000 stand of arms. 4700 prisoners we killed and wounded 30 000
Robert A Bruces estimate of the fight commencing May 4 1864
we lost in total over 18 thousand captured from the enemy 20 pieces of Artilery 50 000 stand of arms. captured 35 000 prisoners the enemies loss was horrible and he [faded]
Amount Collected in the month commencing July the 4 1862 by me
on Monday July 4 1862 4.00
R A Bruce commenced work on the forth July 1862
I arived at Brounsburg at Mr James Withrow Augs 4 1862
Left on Aug 1862
[faded]
[faded account of Dr/Cr of Robt A Bruce, partially marked through when paid]
George A Bruce Dr
1862
Feb 29 Sent fifty dollars $50.00
April 6 Sent twenty Dollars $20.00
Sent 30$ home in winter
July 4 Sent him 10$
[scratched out]
George H Miller pair soles 2.00
Sent 75cts cash
James H Marshall
do cash sent
do half soles
on battlefield
To two dollars in cash
[faded]
2
Bruce Cr
The Battles fought in the year
1863
April the 29th the Yankees commenced crossing over the Rappahannock River at Fredericksburg about day brake continued all day and on 30th commenced fighting about 6 AM at Kelleys ford and about 4½ Oclock we opened on them with our cannon so far we have the advantage Early Div the front line [?] the skirmishers [faded] rained all day [faded] the 30th clear in the afternoon cannonading seased at 7½ PM oclock
First day of May all quiet along the line before our Devision of the River at Kelleys ford fighting from about 8 Oclock AM untill about one PM cannonading ceased we moved to the left off the Brig at 4 Oclock PM nothing stirring up to 5 Oclock PM
[upside down]
[?] all the troop gone of [?]
2ond May Came on picket this morning before day lighting up the Kelleys ford again our cannonading heard from about 5 Oclock AM until off and on untill way in the night we commenced on the right at [faded] crossing with our batteries [?] kept up a continual fire from 6½ Oclock untill about 10 Oclock AM Capt Raines Com the Lee Battery fired several shots at them the battery is situated on the left off our Brig the Yankeys retired from the field cannon skirmishers and forsed at about 10 Oclock AM movement up and down the river advance again 11½ Oclock AM by then [?] from 12 Oclock at 2½ 6 Oclock we marched to reinforce General Lee marched within about 4 miles off the battle [?] at KF and was countermarched and came back to our own fighting ground and went in the diches
at about 9 Oclock through out two videtes in front of us untill twelve Oclock when the 58 Va Reg advanced in front off the entrenchment as skirmishers and was run back but advanced again and stayed we layed down again and layed untill day brake at which time the skirmishers got to gather 6 Oclock our cannon on the left commenced firing continued untill after 11 oclock the thirteenth Reg releaved the 58 Reg at 5 Oclock. The Yankees flanked us about 10 Oclock on our left opposite to Fredericksburg took several pieces of cannon and infuntry then we fell back to the seckond row of diches no casualties in our Reg to mention the boys in front aper ready to attacked them at any time at 8 oclock we marched from the diches up to the right on the flank and remained all knight
[overwritten] 4th we took position on the right off the M[?] House layed there untill 10 Oclock when we moved to the left towards some hights and charged them but was stoped by Luetenunt Smith returned to our position on the right as be fore first Rockbrige battery at 5½ Oclock opened on the Yankeys on the hights which they captured from us the day before and drove them of off it. Our Reg layed in the dich untill 5 Oclock PM when we moved over under the cover off the hill layed there until 5½ Oclock when we went in line off battle to the hights on the plank road about 1 mile from FB a grand charge commenced at 4½ by General [?] & Hays in the front and left and General Gordon on the right and Ma General M[?] in the rear
we compleatly routed them at 9 Oclock at knight there was an other charge and routed them at 10 Oclock we were ordered to take the diches on the Mares Hights to the left off the plank road layed in the entrenchment all knight we went to throwing up breast works on the 5th
May 30 Jack Ferrell and I went to Fredericksburg got thare at 7½ Oclock AM and stayed untill 8½ Oclock PM went to see some Ladyes about 11½ AM eat dinner with Mr Griffin returned to camp at knight
May 31 [?] on out past R[?] in the tellegraph post with Capt Olifant and so forth
June 5 at 1 Oclock AM we started from camp near [faded]
in [?] march untill 5 Oclock AM layed at Spotsilvania CH untill 7½ Oclock took up line of march and marched up within 5 miles of the plank road layed all knight and the next day the 6th
6
I got a letter from Home the sixth dated the third of this month some cannonading heard to day towards Fredericksburg nothing of interest though from this point enemy crossed over the river and commenced forty fying at Fredericksburg and below to wards Hamiltons [?] in the [?] bound road.
7 we march over on the plank road got thear about 10 Oclock PM layed thear untill day light on the 7th
march to with in three miles of Culpepper Court House layed there untill 6 Oclock the
8th took up line of march toward CCH march three miles below on the Sperry Vill Turnpick camped at about 11 Oclock AM stayed there all day and knight and untill 2 Oclock AM the day of the 9 when we were called up in line of battle near our camp it proved to be a false alarm and we resumed our camp in about one hour after wards we were called up in line and march down to wards Brandys Station with in two miles and a half and camped there that knight untill 6 AM the 10th inst we march to our old camp 3 miles from CCH remained thear a few hours resumed our march and went to [?] River and camped
June 11th we resumed our march went to with in two miles on the opposite side of Washington from Culp CH layed there all knight untill the
12th came to Shenandoah River and stayed all knight until the morning of the 13th when we took up line of march to wards Winchester Earleys Division holding the valley Pike on the upper side of Winchester Johnson Div holding the front Royal Turnpike & General Rodes holding the Bery ville Turnpike and Gen Bodin Jones Jenkins & Stewart are posted at other roads and passes to prevent Milroys escape fighting commenced at 11 Oclock continued on untill after knight all ly quiet at knight except a few stray shot [?] once and a while from the skirmishers
June 13th 1863
all quiet along the line Milroy still refusing to give up. we sent in a flag of Truce demanding a surrender Milroy refuses to surrender and threatens to burn the town and General Ewel threatens death to him and his army if he burns the town. still cannonading up to 1 Oclock PM of the 14 inst. no casualties from Smiths Brig heavy cannonading commenced about 5¾ Oclock PM continued on un till 7½ Oclock PM
June 15 at day brake heavy musketry commenced on the left of W continued untill after sun rise ½ hour then ceased and is quiet up after that about 3 Oclock AM Gen Milroy took command of his Cavalry and cut his way through General Rodes command and maid his personal escape but his forse was captured entirely with
the exceptance of a bout one hundred men captured also some Yankee girles was put in York Hospittal
June 16th put up on the third story in Room No 17th
June 18th we took up line of march went to with in five miles of Charlestown at a Mill called Benefold marched next morning the 18th at 6 Oclock went to with in two miles of Shepherdstown on Mr Sly land Remained in camp there 19, 20, 21st
on the 22ond we marched to Shepherdstown and crossed the Potomac River on foot at 9½ Oclock marched through to Sharpsburg and layed there an hour or so resumed our march and went to Boonsboro or rather this side some 6 miles layed there all knight march a gain day light the 23d marched to with in
half mile of Waynesboro Pensylvania our Reg went on picket left three men to cook up three days rashions Reg returned on the 24th and got there rashions marched a gain at 7 Oclock marched to a little place caled Greenwood we stayed at 25th we took up line of march marched a crossed the south mountain to camp near Newmunsbury during the day we burnt the [faded] Furnace carry on by Thadious Stevens of this state
June 27 we took up again the line of march marched to with in two miles north of Berlin. Remained there untill sunrise on the 28 when we took up line of march marched to with in two miles of a town called York inhabitants numbering 11 000 eleven thousand stayed thare untill the morning of the 30th when we marched back the same road that we came camped 6 miles from Berlin and 4 miles from
Kildee stayed all knight 6 Oclock of the 1st July marched up the road leading to Gettysburg when thare was the fighting commenced at 11 Oclock continued on untill knight at five oclock General Gordon charged them on the right of the road and captured some prisners and left the ground covered with there dead but slight loss on our side no casualties in our Reg yet. some men wounded out of the 49th & 31st Virginia Reg none mortally though. Continued fighting on the sectiond but
Feb 5 1864 I went home stayed fifteen days and returned on the 19th nineteenth of February
List of Clothing Drawn 1864
Feb 1 1864 Drawn 1 one Blanket of GAB
List of flour sold to some of the men
1864 Paid
March 18 Sold to one of Comp G
4 lbs flour 3.00
" A S Terrell
To ten lbs flour 7.50
[?] Powen P 2.00
Benjamin Morris P 1.00
Bill Martin P 2.00
Tom Marrion
To five lbs flour at 75cts lb
By the [?] ten cts 1.00
William Gretzer
To 3 lbs flour 2.00
1864 18.50
March 20 Sent Gerrard M Donelson
10$ ten dollars to be paid
in a few days
Apr 16 borrowed of J C Conner
1864 five Dollars
1864
April 19 Lt G W Moore
To 8 lbs corn meal at 25 cts
April 26 To 12 lbs corn meal at 25 cts
Thomas Marrion
To 9 lbs corn meal at 25 cts
Rubin Hall
By fixing tent 50 cts
Sam Hall
by fixing tents &c $1.00
by cash paid
Thomas Marrion
To 12 lbs meal at 18 cts
Battles fought and marches taken in the year 1864
May 4 started from camp near summer hill ford at 9 Oclock PM [?] layed untill about 1 Oclock PM then marched back to Cedar vill in the Old Stone pike turn out of off it on our left thare in about one hour marched back to the pike and crossed over to our right and went in line of battle on Johnsons right flank
1864
[faded illegible account page]
They that marrieth doeth well
but they marieth not doeth better
7 chapter first Corrintians 38th verse
Concuband
Saz darkies have you seen de massa
With his Mustash on his face
He came along in a great big hurry
And I expect he has left the place
He saw the smoke waz up the river
Where the Linkumb gun boats lay
He took his hat in a great big hurry
And I spect he has rund away
Chorus
Massa rund away
And the darkies stay at home
It must be dat the kingdom's coming
In the year of Jubilou
He six foot one way, two foot tudder
And he weighs three hundred pounds
His coat so big that he couldn't pay the tailor
And it wouldn't go half way round
He drils so much they calls him Capt
And he gets so dreadful tanned
I spect he'll try to fool dem Yankees
And to pass for a contraband
Chos
Massa rund away
The darkies they got tired of living in
In the log house on the lawnd
So they moved there things into massa house
To keep them while they gone
Wine & cider in the cellar
And the darkies they have some
But I specs it will all be confiscated
When Linkcum soldiers come
Chors
Massa rund away
The overseer give us trouble
And he drives us round a spell
But we have cooked him in the smoke house cellar
With the key thrown in the well
The whip lost hand cuff broken
And Massa gets his pay
He is old enough and big enough
And ought known better
Then to went and rund away
Chors
Massa rund away
Eululue
Theres a charm thats thine alone
Binding me with mistic spell
Theres a sweetness in thy tone
That the tongue can never tell
There's a wishing light that gleames
In thine yes of azure blue
Let me live beneath thare beames
Eululue
Dost though ever think of me
When the knight winds moan
And the sound is borne to the
When though art silent and alone
Dost thou know the heart that kneels
At that shrine so pure and true
Or the anguish that it feels
Eululue
I am thine and thine forever
Thine in hart and thine in soul
Thine to worship thee forever
Thine thy beauty to extoll
Oh thy smile gives gladness to me
And no mortal ever knew
How fondly oft I view thee
Eululue
I am told that there is given
To the angels beauty rare
But I often doubt that heaven
Can excel thy beauty there
Nay thine is beauty rarest
What my lips speak but true
For of earth, thou art the fairest
Eululue
Writen on the battle field at Mine Run during the fight at about 5 Oclock PM on the fifth day of May 1864 coppied from the Waverly Magazine
Robert G McCracken
Alan J. [?]
The woman
Lovely woman I adore the
Though to me appear devine
My sooth I doth implore
Let me ever more call the mine
[?] Page 52ond
Beloved! amid the earnest woes
That crowd around my earthly path—
Drew forth alas where from
Not even one lonely pose,—
My soul at least a solace hath
An Eden of bland repose
one line left out
And thus thy memory is to me
Like some enchanted far off isle
In some tumultuous sea
Some ocean throbbing far and free
With storms—but where meanwhile
Serenest skies continually smile
Just o'er that one bright island
Page XVI
Bruce wrote and adapted to a young lady in Waynesboro Va
I fill this cup to one made up
Of loveliness alone
A woman of gentle sex
The seeming paragon
To whom the better element
And kindly stars have given
A form so fair that like the air
Tis less of earth than heaven
2ond
Her every tone is musicks own
Like those of morning birds
And something more than melody
Dwells ever in her words
The coinage of her heart are they
And from her lips each flows
As one may see the burdened bee
Forth issue from the rose.
Page XVII
Affections are as thoughts to her
The measures of her hours
Her feelings have the fragrancy
The freshness of young flours
And lovely passion changing oft
So fill her she appears
The image of themselves by turns
The idol of past years
Of her bright face one glance will trace
A picture on the brain
And of her voice in echoing hearts
A sound must long remain
But memory such as mine of her
So very much endears
When death is nigh my latest sigh
Will not be lifes but hers
Page XVIII
Continued
I filled this cup to one maid up
Of loveliness alone
A woman of her gentle sex
The seeming paragon
Her health and would on earth there stood
Some more of such a fraim
That life might be all poetry
And weariness a name
Concluded
Page XIX 19
Come rest in this bosom my own stricken deer
Though the heard have fled from the thy home is still here
Here still is the smile that no cloud can o'ercast
And a heart and a hand all thy own to the last
Oh what is love maid for if it is not the same
Through joy through torment through glory and shame
I know not I ask not if guilt is in that heart
I but know that I love the what ever thou art
[account of costs, illegible]
List of Cloaths Drawn
Pants Shirt
Novm 6 Drew one jacket 1
Novm6 Drew 1 pair of pants 1
Novm 12 Drew 1 pair of pants 1
Nov 12 Drew 1 pair of Draws 1
12 Drew 1 shirt 1
the cost of Cloathing for 1864
Cap complete 2.00
Cover .38
Jacket 14.00
Pants 12.00
Shirt 3.00
Draws 3.00
Shoes pair 10.00
Socks pair 1.00
Leather stock .25
Great coat 25.00
Blanket 10.00
80.63
[?] Frock [?] 2.00
fatige Overalls 3.00
5.00
Jan 19 Drew of Geo Bruce
1864 to take to camp 25.00
Feb [stricken]
April William Reed
6 By washing shirt Draws & socks
Thou hast called me thy Angel in moments of bliss
And thy Angel I'll be mid the horrors of this
Through the furnace unshrinking thy steps to pursue
And shield thee and save the or perish there too
Recd of Jack Terrell
Feb 2 50 Dollars fifty
George H Miller
by 4 5 Dollars forty five
Jan 26 William Hammer
To 2 lbs flour Paid
Jan R A Bruces mess
26 To 6 lbs flour
Feb 3 by 3 Dollars & 50 cts on
Feb 3 1864 50 cts for flour
March Got from Home 35 lbs
19 flour for which I paid 10.00
Date of letters writen & recd
1864 1864
Jan 24 Jullie M Adams Feb 2
Jan 26 Kate C Garrotte Jan
Pic of Jullie Adams Feb 23
Maggie Sully 20
answ 24 Marcy Sully 23
wrote to her on the 1st March
March 23 wrote to Sampson Pelter
March 27 wrote to Bettie Bruce
[?] Page 32ond
Thou wouldst be loved then let thy heart
From its present pathway part not
Being everything which now thou art
Be nothing which thou art not
So with the world thy gentle ways
Thy grace thy more than beauty
Shall be an endless theme of praise
And love a simple duty
Bruce
The Broken Tie
Thou has broken the tie that once bound me
In fondest affections to thee
Thou has wounded the heart that so loved thee
By making that awful de cree
That we must be parted forever
That I must now love thee no more
And this world is more dreary than ever
Was a desert to a pilgrim before
2
But thank God theres a house in the heavens
[remainder of poem too faded to reproduce]
Poetry
Well I know that I am not
Worthy such sweet love as thine
That a world [?]aldered heart
Is no offering for thy shrine
Though shoulds have the purest best
Earliest flours of the soul
Thou shouldst never share unrest
And a grief beyond control
Yet the sunshine of thy smile
Would again those flowers bring
And my wintry thoughts beguile
In the freshness of the spring
writen and composed by
Blanch
Mr Bruce may your path through life
be one of happiness & pleasure
W H Hammer
May the Blessing of human
rest
DATABASE CONTENT
| (4130) | DL1809 | 190 | Diaries |
Diary of Robert A. Bruce, 52nd Virginia Infantry, April 29, 1863 through February 5, 1864, with additional entry for May 4, 1864, re: Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Battle of Chancellorsville, Second Battle of Winchester, Battle of the Wilderness, Virginia
Tags: Abraham Lincoln, African Americans, Artillery, Battle of Fredericksburg, Battle of Gettysburg, Business, Camp/Lodging, Cavalry, Courtship, Death (Military), Defeat/Surrender, Destruction of Land/Property, Drilling, Engineering/Construction, Fighting, Furloughs, Guns, Home, Hospitals, Hygiene, Injuries, Love, Marching, Marriages, Money, Picket Duty, Poetry, Prisoners of War, Racism, Recreation, Reinforcements, Rivers, Robert E. Lee, Slavery, Supplies, Weather, Work, "Yankees" (Confederate opinions of)
People - Records: 1
- (4604) [writer] ~ Bruce, Robert A.
Places - Records: 1
- (1187) [origination] ~ Waynesboro, Virginia
SOURCES
Robert A. Bruce Diary, DL1809, Nau Collection
