Friday, July 31, 1863

Mrs. Burgess and Maggie here to spend the day.

Thursday, July 30, 1863

Wrote to Jane S. Shedd.  Katy Carlin who came Saturday and helped us since went to-day home.  Mrs. Dawes & Lucy went home on evening train.  Took with them bucket of Blackberries.  William came home from Chillicothe.  He saw Capt. Madison who expressed his high appreciation of attentions received here.

Wednesday, July 29, 1863

Sarah & I went to see the fortification--very tired.  I had a hard turn of palpitation, Kate & Lucy sick headache.  Lizzie toothache.  Nancy & John are both sick -- the reaction after excitement.  William went to Chillicothe to-day.  I sent letters to Clara & Annie L. Dean.

Tuesday, July 28, 1863

Today the farmers resume their work plowing cut corn, stacking wheat, or making hay--everything of the kind having been suspended.  Mrs. Dawes & Lucy came down this evening to talk over the exciting events of the last ten days which seem a month to us & to see the rifle pits.

Monday, July 27, 1863

This morning news came on train that Morgan was captured yesterday.  Just before noon 5 of the soldiers came & sang several pieces of sacred music beautifully, we invited them to dine but the train came for them too soon to allow it.  The company marched up by here, halted at the gate, & displayed their flag which was sent to the front at Berlin Heights.  Then by the Captain’s request gave three cheers for the Cutler family and so ends the Morgan raid--  Capt. Moore’s Co. have got home.

Sunday, July 26, 1863

Capt. Reed’s Co. still here holding his position, also a number of scouts and the sick squad of the regiment.  Reed’s company are mostly farmers from Paint break valley, Ross Co.   Now Morgan is said to be beyond Steubenville more than 100 miles away.  Reg. want to go home.  A number went to meeting.  Capt. Reed of Boonesboro is an intelligent man & good officer.  In his company are Mr. [?] & Mr. Pryson a teacher at Boonseville.

Saturday, July 25, 1863

Old Dr. S. Hildredth died last night.  Morgan reported at Morristown, Belmont Co. --  with from 500 to 1000 men.  We hope soon to hear of his capture or that his robber band are driven from the State.

Kate Carlin came and we got her to stay and help Nancy.  Made rice pudding for officers.  We had green corn for dinner--the first this season.  We have had many compliments on the beauty of our grounds & the manner in which they are kept.  Scouts sang patriotic songs.  Hard shower this P. M.

Friday, July 24, 1863

Morgan crossed the Muskingum at Eagleport where there was a fight--50 rebels said to have been killed & some say Morgan among the slain.  Another fight reported at Rockville.  Col. Lynch was ordered up the Muskingum & may have been in the fight.  To night Morgan was reported near Beverly ford, if so a ride of three or four hours would bring to this or Blennerhassett ford.  Capt. Reed, Mr. Penn & Surgeon Bean here to spend the evening.  All agree that to-night every precaution should be taken to avoid a surprise.  Went to bed expecting to hear signal guns before morning.

Peggy's comments:

Here's a link to a helpful map.

And here's a link to a wonderful article published on the Marietta Special Collections Library's blog on Julia Cutler's Experience During Morgan's Raid.  The article is written by Linda Showalter based on her extensive research and knowledge of the Cutler family.

Thursday, July 23, 1863

A great many soldiers here for many things--Lt. Col. Beach very gentlemanly--also Major Stephenson & Mr. Woodbridge & Col. Brown, Mr. Durand & Mr. Gregg &c here to dinner.  Col. Henry Fearing & G. W. Barker here to see rifle pits.  Mr. Carson came with orders to Col. Brown to move his regiment to Wheeling also to Col. Conine who came this morning and occupied above the house.  Capt. Moore’s Independent Co. belongs to Conine’s regiment.

Both regiments were on the cars in half an hour & the battery was under way in fifteen minutes.  Capt. Reed with an Independent Co. from [?] co. left in charge of this ford.  After the officers were gone we invited the invalid squad to the table--a rebel prisoner named George Nolan of Shelby Co. Ky brought in by Scouts.

Wednesday, July 22, 1863

Morgan reported to have abandoned [?] most of whom surrendered.

All quiet at Camp Cutler--in the morning.  But about 9 o’clock Capt. Madeira of Col. Hill’s Staff called to say that Col. Brown’s Regiment were ordered up to take possession of the rifle pits at this point.  They marched up and arrived here before noon.  They crowded in to our house.  The surgeon demanded rooms for the patients and was too drunk to know when he was well treated.  We invited Col. Brown & staff to make their Head Quarters here.  Regiments short of rations - we made tea & coffee and distributed also bread & butter, pie and gingerbread.  A part of the 19^th Ohio Battery with their brass field pieces camped in turnpike between here & Mr. Bailey’s--Morgan reported near Amesville.

Tuesday, July 21, 1863

A Meigs Co. Company slept in the house.  Col. Runkle & Staff came down to see the rifle pits.  News from Burnside that 1000 of Morgans’s men surrendered at [?] and Morgan deserted his command & escaped--

They are digging rifle pits in the meadow above the house & up the hill where a position is selected for cannon.  

Brother William & Lucy came about noon on extra train.  Troops all left soon after on the cars.  Col. Lynch & Staff took tea with us, and left us with many thanks & expressions of regard.  Col. Lynch is from Cincinnati is Major of the 114^th Ohio fought at Haynes Bluff Vicksburg &c . . .being at home on a short furlough & Gov. Todd made him Col of the Regiment of Pickaway Co. Militia.  After all were gone Mrs. Bailey & Betsey Bailey called & we went out to see the rifle pits.  Col. Lynch calls this place Camp Cutler.

Monday, July 20, 1863

The soldiers here on duty are from Morgan, Noble, Meigs, Athens, & Washington & Monroe.  We slept very little last night--soldiers coming in till after midnight for food.  Col. Lynch & his Staff. Mr. Turney, said to be the richest man in Pickaway Co., and Mr. Drum all pleasant gentlemen make their headquarters here--Chillicothe regiment under Col. Brown marched down to Crooked Creek about midnight--also Artillery.  Since five o’clock yesterday rifle pits have been constructed all the way from river road to the point of the hill.  Working all night, 400 men relieved every six hours--a great many Morgan’s &  Noble’s Co. men.  James R. Morris, Congressman, worked in the trenches today.  Morgan said to have camped in Tupper’s Plains last night.  Gunboats prevented them from fording at Buffington killing 150 & capturing 300.  Lynch reports to Runkle that he can hold this position after 6 P. M. against 20,000 men.  Dispatch from Wim. saying Morgan was 6 miles from Chester 10 A. M.  ---Rainy. Shark has been arrested.

Peggy’s notes:

In the journal that Julia used for 1863, the space for each day’s entry was small.  For the next few days, she had a great to report and the journal is difficult to read.  For an additional account of Morgan’s Raid into Ohio, see this article reprinted from the Marietta Register, May 5, 1898.

Sunday, July 19, 1863

Col. Hill and his aid Capt. Midicier here examining maps &c with B. C. Bailey.  Cavalry company passed down this morning toward Chester, stopped for water.  Sent John a basket of pies, biscuit, &c. by Walter Chalfont.  Fighting is reported at Buffington.  Capt. Moores Co. supposed to be there.  About three o’clock about 400 men with picks & shovels came on train to fortify or obstruct roads.  Gave them all we had cooked.  Suppose we fed more than 200 today.

Saturday, July 18, 1863

Capt. Moore’s Company went down this morning to intercept Morgan, two other trains passed down with soldiers also a steamboat & barge.  Morgan’s scouts reported at Dillonvale 20 miles from here.  Misses Lucy Hollister, Annette Campbell, Mary Putnam here to tea.  Gave bread & butter & pie to 45 Harmar soldiers sent to remove boats.  William gone out toward Athens to night to obstruct roads.  We have not a man or boy about the town. 

Friday, July 17, 1863

John had to go into camp to-day.  Old Mr. Pettichord & Mr. Call finished getting in the hay.  A fight reported today with the rebels on Berlin Heights near Hampden Station.  

Lucy went home.

Thursday, July 16, 1863

Morgan is reported at Piketon, a large militia force at Chillicothe under Col. Runkle to intercept Morgan who is a bold raider at the head of a bold and reckless band.

Wednesday, July 15, 1863

The sun shines today the first time for a week and the men are making hay & getting it in to cocks.  William here this morning & now gone to Chillicothe.  Great riot in New York City resisting the draft.  Tribune office said to be destroyed & Port Hudson surrendered to our forces & the Mississippi river is ours.  Capt. Cole here since moving his men, militia to rendezvous at Marietta.  Joe Skipton had to go from the hay fields.  We have also an independent company of 80 men under Capt Moore.

Peggy's comments:

The great riot in NYC was widespread and caused many deaths.  Read about it and see a political cartoon from the NY Times here.

Tuesday, July 14, 1863

William went to Chillicothe & returned to-day.  Rebels under Morgan have torn up the Little Miami Railroad & burnt a train this morning.  William has charge of Marietta road this side of Chillicothe.  The employees are armed to watch bridges.  He goes to Marietta to attend to his business to-night.  Kate & Lizzie went to & returned from town today.  No train from Cincinnati came and no paper.  Letter from Ephe--pursuing Johnson.

Peggy's comments:

Morgan's Raiders were again riding along the border separating the states that remained in the Union and those that had seceded.  In July, Confederate  Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan lead 1,400 calvary on a 13 day raid in southern and eastern Ohio.  More information here from Ohio History Central and here from the Civil War Gazette blog.

Monday, July 13, 1863

Every body speaks of the gingerlus [?] state of the atmosphere.  The sun does not shine, even when there are no clouds--and when dark and cloudy no rain falls.  The air is damp and wheat molds in the shock.

Sunday, July 12, 1863

The smoke still envelopes us, it is so dense that the sun does not shine through it.  Objects, houses a mile off are scarcely distinguished, James Island is not visible two miles away.  Cool.  Mr. Curtis preached.

Saturday, July 11, 1863

Lucy came this morning with a dispatch from Rufus dated July 4^th.  He was well.  The 2^d  Mississippi regiment under Major Blair surrendered to him July 1^st.  Kate came this evening.  Lee is still at Antietam--no battle yet.  Ephe is under Sherman who is after Johnson.  Our last letter was written June 22.  We look anxiously for further news.  Kate came home.

Peggy's comments:

Here is a letter Rufus Dawes wrote to his fiancé, Mary Gates:

Line of Battle on a hill near GettysburgJuly 2, 1863 8 a.m.
God has preserved me unharmed through another desperate bloody battle.  Regiment lost 160 men killed and wounded.  I ordered a charge and we captured a regiment.  There are no communications now with the north but I hope you will get this.

Friday, July 10, 1863

Still dark and gloomy but no rain.  The papers say that Lee is concentrating on the old Antietam battlefield and Meade is concentrating to fight him probably to-day & tomorrow.  How solemn the thoughts that a nation’s destinies depend on the struggle.  God help & deliver us.

A victory at Helena, Ark. on the 4^th of July is reported.

Peggy's comments:

For more information at the battle of Helena, Arkansas, see this account from the Encyclopedia of Arkansas.

Thursday, July 9, 1863

The sky today is overspread with a smokey haze, through which the sun can not shine.  Is it the battle cloud wafted westward?  

Haying today.  Female prayer meeting at Mr. Burgess’.  Mrs. W. D. Bailey, Mrs. Cutler, Miss. E. McClure, came.  I made up the number, the children came in.

William got home from Chillicothe.  No news yet from Rufus.

Wednesday, July 8, 1863

Mrs. Burgess spent the day here.  William has gone to Chillicothe.  

The fight at Gettysburg lasted three days and was a complete victory for us--this with the taking of Vicksburg is encouraging.  “Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory.”

Peggy's comments:
For more about the battle at Gettysburg, visit the Civil War Trust site or the National Park Service site.

To read Rufus Dawes' account of the Sixth Wisconsin's role at Gettysburg, read Chapter 8 from his book, Service with the Sixth Wisconsin Volunteers, published on line by the Wisconsin Historical Society.

Tuesday, July 7, 1863

This afternoon we heard an hundred rounds of cannon from Parkersburg but did not know until evening that it was in honor of the taking of Vicksburg.  Pemberton surrendered to Grant on the 4^th of July.   20,000 prisoners of war.

Mrs. Dr. Frank [illegible] came down to say the Dr. starts to morrow for Gettysburg, Pa. to look after our wounded.  William gave her letters & twenty five dollars for the Dr.   Firing of cannon & bonfires in Marietta to-night.  Rockets &c here by W. D. Bailey.

Monday, July 6, 1863

This is an anxious day with us.  We apprehend disastrous news from Pennsylvania notwithstanding the favorable reports of Saturday--

Kate came on evening train.  From the published lists of killed & wounded in the 1^st Army Corp on Wednesday we hope Rufus came safely through that fearful battle.  Today’s news makes victory certain for the Potomac Army.  God be praised.

Sunday, July 5, 1863

William who came home from Amesville last night says that the troops who passed last evening were sent in consequence of a dispatch from Gen. Kelly saying Rebels were marching on Parkersburg.

Mr. Wakefield preached today from the text “The Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men & giveth to whomever He will.”

Saturday, July 4, 1863

Wakened by the Parkersburg Cannon firing National Salute.  I feel too anxious about Rufus to think of much of anything else.  He is 25 years old today.  May God have him in his holy keeping.

A train down with Co. B. Governor’s Guards.  Also an artillery train with all their accoutrements.  Roads muddy from a heavy rain this afternoon.

Friday, July 3, 1863

William went by morning train to Amesville where he is to make a speech tomorrow.  A fight near Gettysburg, Pa July 1^st, First Army Corps engaged.

Loss in officers very severe.  We tremble for Rufus.  Much depends upon the struggle in Pennsylvania.  May the compassionate Savior pity & bless the suffering ones.

Thursday, July 2, 1863

Today is Commencement day at Marietta.  None of our family went up.  William came home from Chillicothe.  Sister Sarah sent word that Lucy is sick.  Kate went up on evening train.  Gen. Reynolds of 1^st Army Corp killed near Gettysburg yesterday.  We are anxious for Rufus who is in this corps.

Peggy's comments:

Commencement Day at Marietta refers to Marietta College.  Rufus Dawes had been a student there for a year.  

News from the battles came sporadically and was often inaccurate.  It would be days before the family would hear about Rufus.

Wednesday, July 1, 1863

William went out to Chillicothe.  Men at work in hay field.  Very warm.  William Cutter of the 77^th O. V. I. here to day--  Miss Louisa Carpenter and the Misses Merwins called.  Gave them bouquets which they proposed to keep for commencement tomorrow.  Miss Greenwood called--she seemed sad--she has much to make her so.

Peggy's Comments:
Today was the first day of fighting at Gettysburg.  Julia's nephew, Rufus R. Dawes, was fighting at the railroad cut.