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Diary of William L Fisher
Company K
23rd Georgia Infantry
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During The War Between The States
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Covering Time Period
July 22nd 1861 thru August 26th 1863
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William Fisher was the grandfather of Mr. Charles
Wesley Lindsey Sr. through whose courtesy this verbatim copy was made possible
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Memorandum
by
William Fisher
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1861
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July the 22nd 1861
I having previously joined a volunteer company
went to Blairsville and helped organize the Company and elect our officers after which time we stood in readiness to march
to camps at a day’s notice
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August the 12th
I cut my foot with an axe and was unable to
travel for two months
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Aug 22nd
The Co. marched for camp McDonald, Ga. but
I rode to town, saw them leave, then returned home
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Aug31st
The Company was mustered into service for the
war into the 23rd Georgia Regt. by Capt Wm Bacon, A.Q.M., of the C.S.A.
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Nov 9th
I left home to go to Camp McDonald, I got there
and was mustered into service
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Nov 11th
The 23rd taken the cars for the seat of war
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Nov 14th
We landed in Richmond Va. taken up to camp
and drilled regular
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Nov 30th
We moved to Bloody Run, now called Chimbarazo
Hospital
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Dec 10th
We got on board a steamboat (The North Hampton)
and sailed down James River to Kings Warf
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Dec 14th
Marched to Yorktown and Camped
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1862
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Jan 7th
Nathan Sullivan died Jan the 7
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Jan 30th
I taken a Conjestive Chill
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Jan 31st
Went into Winter quarters that we had built
ourselves of pine loggs we had snug cabins with brick chimney
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Feb 11th
We were assigned to a Battery
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March 4th
Thompson Nix died of fever, and was carried
home by W L Howard
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Mar 7th
Navy fight at Newport News, the federals defeated,
3 Yankee Gun Boats sunk
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Mar 21st
I was carried off to Buglars Hospital with
the fever where I staid 12 weeks
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April 3rd
Went to Hospital in Williamsburg
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Apr 5th
Started for Richmond to Hospital. The bombardment
of Yorktown began
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Apr 7th
I got to Chimbarazo Hospital and began to mend
rapidly The siege of Yorktown continues
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Apr the 22nd
I went to Yorktown and reported for duty. I
now soon became familiar with those Missiles called Bomb Shells
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May the 3rd
After destroying all our Stores and Artillery
that we could not carry off we retreated under cover of night, Leaving the Peninsular in the hands of the Yankees. We made
our way towards Richmond. We were all mad at having to leave our fortifications without a general Engagement but we afterwards
found that the retret was a wise piece of business
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May the 4th
We stood in line of battle day and night, at
Williamsburg. Wet, Bad weather
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May the 5th
The Battle of Williamsburg, Va., the Muddyest
time I ever experienced in life
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May the 6th
Left the field en rout for Richmond having
done 3 ½ days without any thing to eat, we were very near gone up the spout on several occasions
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May the 7th
Battle of West Point, Yankees repulsed
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May the 13th
P.Y. Sason died in Richmond
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May the 16th
The Army got to Richmond and made a stand.
Formed a line of defense and began fortifying
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May the 31st
Battle of Pines began
23rd Suffered heavy loss, loosing 18 killed and 69 wounded, Co. K’s loss was as follows: Capt A Young, Corpl George
Lewis, Privates J.N. Stiles, W.P. Bryan, and R.P. Daniel wounded, and S.K. Moore killed – we lay on the Battle field
that night
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June the 1st
the Battle ended late that evening, but we
again rested upon the battle field, having driven the enemy across the Chickahomany River we here gained a glorious victory
but it cost us dearly, the ground was drinced with Freeman’s blood.
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June 2nd
We returned to Camps tired and sleepy and not
far from being hungry, we were soon piled about on the ground asleep and resting our selves from our fateague after which
we regulated our selves and drilled regular
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June the 25th
There having been skirmishing for several days
along the frontiers. Both Armies got in earnest today and the 7 days fight began which is termed the Great Battle before Richmond
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June the 26th
Battle of the Chickahomany Swamps
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June the 27th
Battle of Mechanicsville in the morning, J.R.
England and E.B. Shastain, wounded. Yankees torn into jiblets Battles of Gaines Mills and Cold Harbor in the evening at the
latter place I got wounded about one hour by sun
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June the 27th
The Battle of Cold Harbor was one of the most
desperate ever fought, but at the right time Stonewall came in in their rear and Completed a glorious victory to Southern
Arms, but the siege is not yet ended, I lay on the Battle Field that night
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June the 28th
I made my way to the 4th Georgia Hospital in
Richmond 17 miles from where I was wounded. The Battle of White Oak Swamps were fought today
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June the 29th and 30th
The fighting was general, the Yanks were retreating
slowly
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July the 1st
Battle of Malvern Hill, Here both armies fought
like heros from Daylight to Dark with but little result. But the Yankees left under cover of night and went to thier Gun Boats
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July the 2nd
Our Army now returned to Richmond Crowned with
Victory for which they had dearly paid. In this fight our Co. lost 2 killed Viz: J.C. Patterson, and Joseph Hays – and
J.R. England, E.B. Chastain, R.A. Hays, Alfred Adams, N.D. Nicholson and myself were wounded, the hospitals in Richmond and
else where were crowded with wounded. Everybody have their hearts and hands both full.
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July the 4th
I got a furlough for 60 days, but did not get
off home today
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July the 5th
I taken the cars for home at 4 pm.
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July the 6th
At 8 am I landed in Raleigh, N.C. and being
unable to travel any farther I went to the Peace Institute Hospital where I stayed four weeks in a suffering condition. 4
days of that time I were insensible from weakness and suffering together
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August the 1st
I left for home at 5 pm
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August 2nd
Got to Columbia and stayed all night
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August 3rd
Got to Walholla, S.C., and left the railroad
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August the 4th
Hired a hack and driver to take me home, and
went to Clayton, Ga.
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August the 5th
Got to Hiwasseeville
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August 6th
About 4 o clock pm, I landed home. I was very
weak and unable to stir but very little for a good while but I mended gradually untill I was able to go where I pleased. It
is unnecessary to say anything much about what happened while I was at home on my object was only to bring to mind in days
to come these things which happened while I were from home, and let it suffice to say that I had my furlough purlonged and
stayed at home 5 weeks and one day before I left for Camps again.
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1863
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Jan the 7th
Very early in the morning I shouldered my bundle
and set out alone on foot the Railroad, to go to the Seat of War, and not being used to traveling I only went to Dahlonga,
that day where I taken the hack and landed in Atlanta the 10th. Left the 11th, left Augusta the District of Columbia the 13th
, before day passed Raleigh 13th after night, got to Richmond, Va. the 12th at 12 o clock stayed there that night left at
4 next morning landed at Guinna Station at 2 o clock pm and after walking 5 miles mostly through camps I landed at the camp
of the old 25th, where I rejoined my command but not being able for duty I done no military duty of any sort what ever not
even so much as to answer my name at Roll Call.
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Jan the 19th
it being decided among the officers that there
were no hope of me being able for duty soon I got a Surgeon’s Certificate of Disability for a furlough and went before
a Medical Examining Board and were examined but the decision of the board were that I should go to a Hospital for Medical
treatment.
Jan the 19th
But as the Small Pox were raging at that time in Richmond I choosed rather to remain in Camps than to risk my fate in
a General Hospital, and my hand still being in an ulcerated condition it could not be rightly ascertained where the Battle
was envelloped which Rendered the Extraction very dangerous. So I taken up my abode in Camps where I remained, as you will
see for a considerable before I left the Army. I was now unable for Duty of any kind. I therefore spent a large portion of
my time in pursuing the country, viewing the old Battle fields. I would be improper here to relate the condition of our Army
at this time. The Confederate Army at this place numbered about 120 thousand men, who were encamped or rather posted on a
line of defense 28 miles in length, i. e. from Port Royal to Culpepper along the Rappahannock River . besides scouting parties
for miles in each direction who were daily skirmishing with Federal Cavalry.
Our Army were well clothed and shod at this
time and also received a reasonable allowment of rations, the troops were generally in good health and all in the finest of
spirits and willing to meet the enemy at any time when they were called upon so to do – But there was one thing we lacked
which were badly needed and that were tents, the weather was cold and disagreeable and we had to take it soldier fashion just
like I did and a host of people only we could build large fires and stand around them when we were not on active duty. There
was only thier narrow stream off 150 to 200 yards wide which separated us from the enemy who were strongly entrenched on the
opposite bank of the River but there were no picket firing going on and we were permitted to talk to our enemies at our leisure,
there force at this place was much stronger then ours, about this time General Joe Hooker taken command of the Army of the
Potomac.
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Jan the 20th
The Yankee Balloon was raised for the first
time since the Fredericksburg fight which caused us to suspect that an engagement was soon to take place
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Jan the 21st
our Quarter Master, having awakened to his
Duty and brought in our money we drawn 6 months wages today, besides some of us who have been absent for some time drawn much
more I received $156.00 Dollars wages and fifty dollars bounty
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Jan the 25th
We all having money plenty and nothing to do
we spent a great portion of our time in foraging through the country and going to Guinnia Station which was our nearest market
and in a few days were all out of money
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Jan the 26th
Cannonading was heared verry heavy at a distance
off. Continual skirmishing was going on among the Cavalry and the Yankees had been selecting a place to lay a Pontaon Bridge
which made us think we had something on hand to do, we cooked up Rations but no fight
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Feb the 19th
The snow melted fast. Some rain and mud from
zone 7
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Feb the 20th
We haveing got tired of cooking out of doors
and comeing to the conclusion that the best was as good as any, we laid today and built little chimneys to our tents which
proved to be a cash piece of work
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Feb the 21st
All reports from the front were verry favorable
which kept us in good heart the Yankees kept on thier own side of Jordan, verry well at present
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Feb the 22nd
There fell today the deepest snow I ever witnessed
at dark. It would average 2 feet deep
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Feb the 23rd
We had a snow fight with Gen Rodes Brigade
2 of the 19th Ga. got their arms broke, several eyes were put out. I received the news today that I got (after I left home
on my last voyage) from father or any of my folks. The rest of the month we had bad weather and nothing of interest transpired
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March 1st and 2nd
Beautiful weather over head. The Regt went
out on Picket I remained in camps
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March 3rd
I carried ration to the Co. I received a letter
from home which brought me the sad news that my brother Joseph was dead. He died the 14th of February
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March 4th
I bought a load of sweet cakes and carried
to the Regt on picket
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March 5th
G.M. Bowers returned for Duty
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March 6th
A fine time for sitting around the fire Porching
corn and telling lies
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