A Soldier's Story of the Siege of Vicksburg; From the Diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd...

by Osborn Hamiline Oldroyd

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1885 edition. ...it is yet beyond our conjecture, for we never know in this kind of service what a day may bring forth. Preparations appear to have been made here for remaining in camp, and yet we may sleep to-night many miles away, or perhaps, without sleeping, march the whole night through. If only life is spared, it is enough; our duties are not shirked. If we camp only for a day, our quarters are to be all cleaned up, and everything put in the best order possible for comfort. On such excursions as this we have no mess cooking, but every fellow cooks for himself. The first man up in the morning, therefore, gets the frying-pan, from whom the next must engage it, and then may come number three, who is referred to number two. So the utensil goes round a group or mess. The coffee is generally made in a camp kettle for the entire company. I have spent more time hunting up the owner of the last claim on the fryingpan than it afterward took to fry my bacon and crackers. The pay-master is said to be not far from camp, which creates quite an excitement, since he may charge upon us any moment. There were orders for inspection every morning at eight o'clock for all companies. A little exercise of this kind hurts nobody. I took a stroll through the woods, looking at the graves of those who had fallen by the wayside while our army fought for the position it now holds around Vicksburg. These graves will soon be leveled, and their last trace lost. Friends may mourn for the fallen, but their tears will never water the graves of the heroes. I write with the aid of a bayonet candle-stick. The latter end of this month will find me just twenty-one years of age. July 2nd.--This is Camp Tiffin.' Our regiment was favored to-day with a large mail, and nothing could have been...

44 pages, Paperback

First published December 22, 2009

Reviews

[Dennis Nolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I purchsed this book because I like reading any history on the civil war. It was an interesting and quick read. The publisher did a nice job restoring this 1923 book. I partularily liked the Siege of Vicksburg because it told the story of both sides of the war. For that reason I gave it a five and will recommend it as a 'should read if you are interested in Civil War history.

[M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just okay. Seemed like an honorable guy though.