Tuesday, May 31, 1864

Lucy came on the evening train.  They have just heard that Charles Gates is very sick at Harper’s Ferry with pneumonia.  Mr. and Mrs. Gates were on the train going to him.

Peggy's comments:
Charles Gates, Mary Gates Dawes's 19 year old brother, had enlisted and was injured on the train derailment outside Marietta on May 23.

Monday, May 30, 1864

Gardening today.  Dr. Reigner & son & grandson came on some business with William.
Gen. Grant has re-crossed the North Anna, marched east & is safely across the Pamunky, thus avoiding an engagement with Lee while in his strong fortifications on the South Anna, and flanking him in such a way as to force him to abandon them.  A wise movement.

Sabbath, May 29 1864

Attended Sabbath school & preaching.  We are to have sacrament next Sabbath and preparatory lecture at two o’clock the Saturday preceding.

Peggy's comments:
Rufus wrote very frequently to his wife Mary.  Here is a portion of a letter written on May 29:

Two days and nights of incessant marching has placed us within seventeen miles of Richmond, the heart of the rebellion.  A glorious achievement!  The thousands of this army are full of admiration and gratitude for the man who has pushed back the rebel army thirty miles without a general battle.  The nearer we get to an investment of Richmond, the less we regard our danger of bloody fighting, and our men are intensely anxious to get forward as far as their legs without help of their muskets will carry them.  Our advance is now within fourteen miles of Richmond.  We are now waiting in line to move forward.

Saturday, May 28, 1864

Mrs. Leroy Dramar and Mrs. A. S. Bailey called on us.  Mr. Dramer whose house is in Morgantown West Virginia wishes to purchase a place below Marietta.  I wish he may do so.  They are pleasant & good people.  Mrs. Cutler went up to see her mother who is still feeble and Lizzie Poage who has been sick with mumps.  Marther Collville is gone to spend the Sabbath at Mr. M^cTaggarts.

While we deplore the great loss of life in late battles, and shudder at those yet to be fought, we cannot but hope & believe that progress is being made and God is blessing our army and giving them the victory.

Friday, May 27" 1864

Lizzie & litle Sarah went to town with William.  He came home on the 11 o’clock train and went back on the three o’clock, & brought them home on the cars in the evening.   Lizzie got Nancy a pretty black calico dress and gave her for helping do the papering.   Nancy & I worked at the entry all the time we could & nearly finished papering it.  An old man called and wanted to tell fortunes.  I told him No!  Our fortunes came to us fast enough.  So he went on.  Mrs. W. D. M^cClure returned Lizzie’s and my call.  Mr. A. S. Bailey called -- he was first Lieutenant in Co. K. 148 Regt National Guards but his Co. being consolidated with another, the Lieutenants were thrown out -- This Regiment is reported to be at Harpers Ferry.  Martha Colville who sews for us has a brother & several realties in Col. Moore’s Regiment.

Ephe is twenty four years old to-day.  How little we expected for him such a life of peril as he is now enduring.  Our heavenly Father has mercifully preserved both him & Rufus hitherto -- may they both be kept unharmed to the end.  Sister Sarah sent down to me a letter just recieved from him.  He passed safely through the battle of Resaca Ga.  His regiment lost 47 killed and wounded and were very highly complimented by Generals Lightburn & Smith.  He writes that they were “perfectly wild with enthusiasm”.  Sherman’s advance into Georgia has been thus far a perfect success.  Ephe is in Lightburn’s Brigade, Morgan L. Smith’s Division & in M^cPherson’s Corp.  Ephe’s horse was shot under him.

Thursday, May 26" 1864

I received a letter from Kate.  She is very anxious about her brothers in the army, as we all are.  Mr. M^cLean has gone to the battlefield sent by the Christian Commission of Pittsburg.  He has a son in a Pennsylvania regiment in the army of the Potomac.  Mrs. W. D. & Mrs. B. C. Bailey here at prayer meeting.  Grant’s army are across the North Anna.

Kate Dawes McLean

Ephraim Cutler Dawes

Rufus R. Dawes

Rufus wrote to his wife:

Line of Battle, May 26th, 7 A. M.

The hot firing of yesterday has died down this morning to only about ten or twelve shots a minute.  We are confronting the enemy precisely as at Spottsylvania, when your father visited me, except that our lines of battle approach each other more nearly.  It is raining steadily.  I have a little shelter tent with logs piled up at the end toward the enemy to stop bullets, and I lie on the ground as I write.  I presume General Grant will not make an assault upon the enemy in their entrenchments.  They get stronger in men as we get nearer Richmond, and their works are probably as elaborately prepared as those at Spottsylvania.  Our battle on Monday evening at Jericho Ford is probably as severe and general as any that will be fought on this line.  The repulse of Butler has a material bearing upon the situation here. 

Wednesday, May 25, 1864

William got home to-day.  It is a time of great anxiety with us for our dear friends in the army.  Rufus under Grant is almost daily in battle, his Division General, Wadsworth, killed in the battle of the Wilderness, friend after friend falling at his side.  In such imminent long continued & constant peril God alone can keep him.  Ephe is with Sherman in Georgia nearly every paper tells of battles fought & victories gained there.  They are moving upon Atlanta which is about 140 miles from Chattanooga, the rebel Gen. Johnston disputing their progress.

Peggy's comments:

Julia had good reason to be concerned for Rufus's safety.  Rufus writes to his wife:

Battle of the North Anna, Line of Battle, May 25th, 1864

We are again closing our lines for a desperate battle.  The bullets clip through the green leaves over my head as I lie behind the breastwork writing.  I have had no full night's sleep since May 7th, when I took command of the regiment.  Day after day, and night after night we have marched, fought and dug entrenchments; I have not changed my clothing since May third.  We have not seen, and seldom communicated with our wagon train.  I have not composure to write, as the bullets are coming so thickly through the limbs, and some poor wounded soldiers are near me.