Thursday, March 27, 2014

Heavy Snow at Camp Gilmore

Sunday, March 27, 1864

A severe snowstorm on Monday left eight inches of snow at Camp Gilmore. The men of the Thirteenth New Hampshire Regiment endured a cold week in camp drilling in the snow and mud. Today the men of the Thirteenth New Hampshire engaged in the routine Sunday duties of inspection, dress parade, and religious services despite the snow and mud. 1

References:
1S. Millett Thompson, Thirteenth Regiment of New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865 : A Diary Covering Three Years and a Day (Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1888), 242-44.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Voting Party Returns to Camp Gilmore

Sunday, March 20, 1864

The men of the Thirteenth New Hampshire Regiment enjoyed a week of pleasant weather at Camp Gilmore. On Saturday the voting party returned to camp and the Thirteenth was once again at full strength. Today the men of the Thirteenth New Hampshire devoted their energy to the usual Sunday regimen of inspection, dress parade, and religious services. 1

References:
1S. Millett Thompson, Thirteenth Regiment of New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865 : A Diary Covering Three Years and a Day (Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1888), 241-42.

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Skirmishes at Suffolk

Sunday, March 13, 1864

The men of the Thirteenth New Hampshire were rushed to Bowers Hill on Wednesday in response to skirmishes along the front near Suffolk, where nearly twenty cavalrymen were killed. The skirmishes were diversions to cover the Confederate retreat from Suffolk. After three days at Bowers Hill the Thirteenth New Hampshire returned to Camp Gilmore.1

References:
1S. Millett Thompson, Thirteenth Regiment of New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865 : A Diary Covering Three Years and a Day (Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1888), 239-41.

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Voting and Skirmishes

Sunday, March 6, 1864

News of a skirmish near Suffolk resulted in the Thirteenth New Hampshire under orders to move at a moment's notice. Many officers and men of the Thirteenth are granted leave to return to New Hampshire from Friday, March 4 to Wednesday, March 16 to vote in elections, reducing the strength of the Thirteenth to nearly 200 men. On Friday the voting party left Camp Gilmore by railroad to Portsmouth and then embarked on the steamboat "Guide." At the same time troops landed at Norfolk and Portsmouth and were rushed to Suffolk to meet any impending threats. Today the Thirteenth New Hampshire passed their time in camp, with the usual Sunday activities of inspection, dress parade, and religious services suspended. 1

References:
1S. Millett Thompson, Thirteenth Regiment of New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865 : A Diary Covering Three Years and a Day (Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1888), 236-39.