that which remains

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"Working parties are now engaged in felling timber on each side of the…Railroad, to prevent its use by guerrillas as a place of concealment. Orders have been issued that if another attack should be made on a Government train...every house of a rebel within five miles of the road, on either side, shall be immediately destroyed...(1864)

"The enemy were posted behind two stone walls; one at the foot of the hill, a few rods beyond the bridge, and the other at the top and almost concealed by the tall growth of wheat through which it ran.”...(June 21, 1863)

 

“I crawled along to a brook, where I lay down and drank a pailful of water, then crossed the brook and got up into a wood. When I had nearly reached a fence, I heard some noise, .... came in sight of our men, many of whom had been killed or wounded.” (1863)

"The field presented a horrible appearance, and in one small spot I counted sixty dead bodies." (1862)

"Crowds of men and horses are pouring into our gate by sunrise to be fed. The prospect of having our humbled stock of provisions devoured alarms us." (1862)

"We killed a beef today weight 500 net. Hear every day of outrages perpetrated on our poor people by the Federal soldiers when in this vicinity. Houses robbed and burned, bread and meat taken to the last morsel." November 22, 1862

"I have lost 30 fine hogs. My sheep are declining....This farm has left the buzzards well fed this summer. These are sorrowful times." (1862)

"The runaway slave came to my house and stopt outside, I heard his motions crackling the twigs of the woodpile, Through the swung half-door of the kitchen I saw him limpsy and weak,..."Song of Myself, Walt Whitman

"It was what they call, we were slaves. We belonged to people. They'd sell us like they sell horses an' cows an' hogs an' all like that. Have a auction bench, an' they'd put you on, up on the bench an' bid on you jus' same as you bidding on cattle you know."

“Oh! that the Southern churches would awaken to a sense of their responsibility! That they would direct their vast influence to the melioration and extinction of slavery.” (1855)

“Two days hiding in the trees, we came upon a schoolhouse said to belong to {Friends}….we looked about to ask for food…” (1864)

“On the morning of the 21st, before daylight, we were aroused from our slumbers and ordered to move... the bugle sounds to arms and up we get on the double quick. We cook our coffee, pack our knapsacks and leave them in charge of a guard…. “ (1863)

“Now happened one of the liveliest and most exciting times we had ever experienced: we were carried along, as it were, by the very tempest, whirlwind and, I might say, joy of battle into the midst of the enemy’s ranks....As a bound the skirmishers ... over the bridge with a general yell, and shouting ‘Shoot them!’ . just .. drove them from behind the walls... taking a number of prisoners, both officers and men,” June 21, 1863

“I am thinking of thee in this twilight hour. And I’m lonely weary and sad,...I am thinking of thee as I sit here alone, And ponder on days that’s past...” (1863)

“Father, Mother, all ye loved ones, Though you meet on earth no more, Far from war and raging tumult, Safe you’ll meet on Canaan’s shore.” On the death of a soldier, 1863