Sketch of Hoods Texas Brigade of the Virginia Army (Handwritten Civil War Diary)

-ing at the backs of his enemy he remained in camp, near the "Seat of Govt" untill the 12th Aug 62. When we received orders to march with full haversacks and boyyant bouyant hearts we started on our trip to some unknown point. "eager & ready for the frog" we moved on by Hanover Junction (the junction of the VA Central & Richmond & Fredricks -burg R Roads) to Orange Court House and thence to the Rappa -hanock, where we arrived Aug 22nd This march from Rich -mond was very sever. The wea -ther being intensly warm men fainted by the roadside. When we arrived a "Freemans Ford" a ford across "Hazel river"

near the junction of Hazel and Rappahanocks rivers We found the army at a dead halt and from the occasional crack of a rifle and the flying by of a [?] we knew at once that we had struck the Yanks and that they were determined to dispute our passage of the Rappahanock and their most defensive point was Hazel river at "Freemans Ford" The "Texas Brigade" with Whitneys Brigade were ordered forward we sent Lt Col Upton of the 5th attack with a heavy line of skirmishers who charged and captured "Freemans Ford" on Hazel river we crossed over rapidly wading into the water waist

deep after crossing over we threw out out skirmishers and in line of both advanced upon the enemy who had taken shelter in a piece of woods just beyond the ford drove them with great slaughter from the woods into a field of green corn and ran them into the Rappahanock river half mile or 3/4 distant as soon as we made our appearance in this field we were opened upon by Tankee battering on opposite sides of Rappahanock river (The field flanked to the river) The shells blew thick + fast around us and one shell bunting in the 5th mortally wounded Maj Whaley and badly wounded

several others Thus far an hour we were under a severe artillery fire About 5pm the enemy having been driven from the fords on the Rappahanocl by Genl Longstreet who was on our left we retired from our very "uncomfortable" positions in the field and fell back to a position in the woods from which we have driven the Yanks Thus indeed the "small" battle of --"Freemans Ford" The enemys batteries on the opposite side of the Rappahanock were blazing away at us covering their side at which was very perceptable by the moving colums of Infantry Artillery

and Wagon trains It having rained the night previous to the battle our provisions wagons were unable to cross the river and having been on a forced march we were destitute of rations and as a matter course were mostly starved which is quite pleasant when you have nothing else to do Our only resource was the corn field near by ^ in our front filled with green corn permission was given to charge the "roasting ears" and in half hour the camp was flooded with green corn which had been procured at the risk of life for the Yankee batteries commanded with their fire the whole field It was indeed a novel sight