[from the diary of Eugene M. Cox of the Border Guard, Wise’s Legion]

Sunday

Another beautiful Sabbath morning has

dawned upon us and with it come the recollection of our

once happy homes and of all the sweet enjoyments of peace.

Father and brother long to join the sweet communion of

their family circles–Little do those at home know of the

hardships of a soldiers life–actual combat is nothing to

be compared with the other duties, incident to camp life,

such as hunger, thirst, cold, heat and long and toilsome

marches and counter marches–We are not long allowed to

rest on this Holy Day for we have just received orders to

cook up three days’ provisions and pack the same in our

havre sacs and be ready to march at any moment–we know

nothing of our destination–12 o’clock noon–News comes

that an engagement has commenced near “Hawks Nest” — &

we are ordered to form and march toward the scene of

battle–the battalion is in readiness in a few minutes and

we are immediately put in motion–6 o’clock P.M. We were

(1st regiment Col. Richardson’s) marched beyond the “Gap”

a short distance and halted at a point near which were

two cannons planted which we were to support–here we re

mained waiting for orders–the two other regiments went

on in the direction of the fight–As it turned out it was an

attack of the enemy in ambush upon our cavalry under Col.

Davis scouting in that direction –The surprise was complete

doing our cavalry considerable damage–wounding a considerable

number, killing [blank space]

The enemy having disappeared behind their fortification about

“Hawk’s Nest” & we seeing no chance to get an engagement,

our whole Brigade moved back to quarters–This little affair

frustrated for the time, our design of moving in another

direction, for which we had made preparations–7 P.M. Have

orders to be in readiness to march at 8 o’clock tomorrow

morning–9 P.M. All retired to rest—



Eugene M. Cox, Private, 46th Virgnia Infantry.

A reference to the skirmish at Piggots Mill in West Virignia

Col. John Harvie Richardson, 1828-1900, was a pre-war Virignia milita officer and author of an infantry manual. After the war was a Richmond city official and operator of a street car line.

MSS 38-221