A Confederate A Federal

William Wallace van Amber
Civil War Diaries & Letters

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Diary Entries December 21, 1863

Diary entry Dated 12/21/63

Mon., Dec. 21, 1863

On picket yet. Was relieved at 11 o.c. It is not as cold as it was yesterday. On the reserve now till Wednesday. Went into camp today and mailed my letter to Ett.

Tues. Dec. 22, 1863

Here on reserve yet. Nothing to do only lay here and keep fire. Have written a letter to I. C. Ryet

Wed. Dec. 23,1863

Got into camp about noon. The company has gone over about a mile to build shanties in a new campground, but an order came to stop and be ready to move at a minutes notice.

Thu. Dec. 24, 1863

Got orders last night to pack up and get our breakfast by 5 o.c. this morning. Got started this morning about sunrise and marched 15 miles before sundown. Came about 5 miles on the railroad from Culpeper near the Rapidan.

Fri. Dec. 25, 1863

This is Christmas morning. As pleasant weather here as ever was, It freezes nights but is warm days. We have been here in our tents today. They say we are going into camp about 2 miles from here.

Sat. Dec. 26, 1863

A cold night but a pleasant morning. Laid here all day, nothing to do

Sun. Dec. 27, 1863

Laid here all day today doing nothing.

Mon. Dec. 28, 1863

It rained all night list night and all day today. The nastiest place I ever saw, the ground is all covered with water here

Tues. Dec. 29, 1863

It has cleared up this morning and the sun shines very pleasant here we lay doing nothing.

Wed. Dec. 30, 1863

Out on picket again today. On reserve for 24 hours. Wrote a letter to Ett. It is very pleasant today.

Thu. Dec. 31, 1863

Here on picket yet. It began to rain this morning and rained all day. Had to go on post at 6 o.c. tonight. It rained till about 12 o.c. 1863.