Thomas Wright a young teenager starts his Diary in July 1858 America. Northern Kentucky, Mason county near the Town of Dover and Lees Creak. across the Ohio River the town of Ripley Ohio. Hot bed of Abolitionist movement. between befriending a slave...
Thomas, is living through life stuck in a trench. This will be the final part of the Petersburg Battle, this battle lasted nine months and change. Like Joe said I hope this doesn't get a All Quiet on the Western Front point of view. Not his exact words, close enough. Life in those trenches had to of been rough on them.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Trench works at Petersburg Virginia.
Between sharpshooters, the summer heat artillery fire, both sides probing the line. The battles along the line. The men couldn't of had a good nights sleep. Soldiers need very few things to survive battle, decent rest, food, away to unwind blow off steam, letters from home. The belief they can go on to win. You satisfy those needs, most will fight, till they have no means to fight. So we continue on with Thomas's story.
1, August 1865
Darn near had my head shot off, made a dumb move. Kept my head above the blame trench ta long. Think I felt the air move, as that blame bullet flew by. The crack it made as it passed by lan sakes. Still a might shaken with that, Philotis looked like he wanted ta knock the fire out me. He yelled Sir! Can't keep ya alive ifin ya keep doin stupid thins like that!
Been sendin the boys back beyond the trench line ta relax some get air that is a lot cleaner ta breath, lan sakes get a bunch fellas cooped up. Well ya know few hundred fellas stuck tagether it can get ta smellin bad. Been a might hard ta keep the place real clean, just to many in one spot. Considering the artillery and raise yar head up get yaself killed. Fellas need ta have some fun, cut loose a bit. Hopin this few hours from the trench a help some with that.
Get a meal in away from the thought those Rebs waitin ta shoot ya. Give a man a break, might give him more will ta carry on. Well the sun gave way ta the moon an stars, best get some rest.
4, August 1865
Took a walk checkin the Company over, they spirits seem up. Good thin hope it stays that way. Will try do the same thin in about two weeks or little longer. No word on what they got planned ta do, least none I heard of. Theo did pass through no time ta talk, seemed tired he just kinda waved is all. We needs ta do somethin ta get out these trench works. Man can only stand so much a bein cooped up, like this. Another long boring day
17, August 1864
Well just finished up, a meetin gotta get the boys ready ta move. We gonna try do some messin with the railroad near Globe's Tavern. We get that taken care of, why supplies can't get ta Richmond nor here. Starve an keep them Rebs from ammunition. One way ta beat them.
18, August 1864 Just gettin ready ta move, the boys are bit fired up. Hell Philotis seems ta be also. Guess bein stuck like we have been, any thin ta move. Make it seem like we doin somethin ta make the war end, is a good thin. Best stop here an get ta movin.
22, August 1864
Been busy, some terrible thins happened, ones that will bother me fer years ta come. I'll start at the 18th till it ended just a day ago.
