Beschreibung:

Approx. 220pp. As rare as Confederate diaries have become, diaries from high-ranking Confederate officers are even rarer, and diaries from regiments as active as the 38th Virginia Infantry even more so. Col. George K. Griggs, the diarist, was a trained military man, born on Sept. 23, 1839, and educated at VMI. On June 3, 1861, Griggs enlisted in the 38th Virginia Infantry, a regiment raised in Pittsylvania, Halifax, and Mechlenburg Counties. Over the next four years, he saw continuous hard service, mostly in the Army of Northern Virginia, commanded by some of the Confederacy’s most noted commanders, including Jubal Early, Armistead, Barton, and JEB Stuart. From the Peninsular Campaign through Gettysburg, the 38th took part in battle after battle, suffering heavy losses at Seven Pines and Malvern Hill, and losing 55% of their effectives at Gettysburg alone. After several months' duty in North Carolina, they were recalled to their home state, were buffeted at Drewry’s Bluff and spent much of the rest of their service under siege in the defenses of Petersburg before surrendering at Appomattox with only 12 officers and 82 men reporting. Throughout, Griggs distinguished himself for his courage and leadership, earning promotion to Major after Gettysburg, to Lieut. Colonel in Nov. 1863, and then to Colonel in May 1864. He was also something of a pincushion, either one of the unluckiest men in the service or one of luckiest, having survived several near misses in remarkable fashion. After being laid low by measles in July 1861, he was wounded at Seven Pines on May 31, 1862, and again at Gettysburg July 3, 1863, earning him a stint in hospital from July through September, and he was again wounded at Drewry’s Bluff, resulting in a second hospitalization. Nevertheless, Griggs returned to duty on July 1864 and was with the regiment when it surrendered at Appomattox Court House. This extensive diary begins as Griggs led the Company of Cascade Riflemen he had raised to Richmond to be incorporated into a regiment. We had quite an affecting scene at Bach-Hall, he wrote, parents leaving children husbands wifes & children, parents. I have 97 men with me who are as brave as need be. We got to Danville about 3 o’clock after a hard drive... it was very hot & a very disagreeable night. We stoped in New hotel, 2 other companies were in it... several of my men got drunk & I did not sleep an hour during the night. Oh God unto thee I look for help and guidance. Give me strength & wisdom to do thy will... The 38th was first placed under Joseph E. Johnson and rushed to Winchester in July 1861, with Griggs commenting I have great confidence in my men making a good fight if they have to do so. I do not know what I shall do but I trust in God & shall endeavor to do my duty... On July 16, the regiment got its first taste of action: We formed line battle in morning but returned to our camp at 12 M. We had hardly rested when our cavalry came in reported they had been attacked by the enemies artillery & our entire force march to line battle determined to give the enemy a warm reception if he came. We were disappointed he did not come & we had to lay on our arms all night.... I feel rather sad contemplating the great slaughter that would follow from an engagement but to God we look for success... In rapid order, Griggs and his men marched to Bull Run, arriving just after the battle was over, though he reported one of the more interesting rumors of the early war: The enemy repulsed our troops by a cowardly act using our flag but we beat them back in evening capturing great many... After a winter at Centreville, the 38th was thrown again into action as George McClellan and the Army of the Potomac began their slow march up the Peninsula toward Richmond. In his laconic, never-complaining style, Griggs’ entries from the Campaign show the slow turn of fortunes in which an apparently overwhelming Union threat was turned back, growing into confidence for the southern ca