The Diary of John Wesley Caldwell, 1865: Tuesday, April 4, 1865

A.M. cloudy P.M. fair and warm. Slept soundly in a wagon last night. Started about sunrise. Passed a very large drove of cattle for the army. Saw Gen's Mead and Grant pass this morning. Made a long halt at noon. I found the 1st Maine Vets and 31st. ?? I saw F. Foster, E. Perkins, J. Morgan, J.O. Cushman and C. Record. Started about 3P.M. Passed many broken wagons, dead mules and horses, relics of the hurried Johnnys Hear nothing from my Regt. An official from Gen'l Grant announces the capture of Richmond which brought many cheers and caused many hats to fly up in the air. We hear too that Bushrod Johnson has surrendered 5,000 Johnnys. Hope it is so.

More on John Wesley Caldwell

From the book, John Caldwell and Sarah Dillingham Caldwell... by Augustine Caldwell (1904) Maine Historical Society call number 929.2

"In the Civil War, he was one of the Six Sons of Wesley and Margaret Cushman Caldwell, who volunteered for three years ; four of whom became fatal victims. He enlisted Aug. 28, 1862, in the 8th Maine Vols. Inf. Co. B. Served three years ; mustered out at Richmond, Va., June 18, 1865, by General Order of War Dep't. He was in the expedition to Florida, when Jacksonville was taken; also in the Department of the South at Hilton Head and Beaufort, S.C. until April, 1864 ; then to Virginia, and was with the army of the James, at the taking to City Point and Bermuda Hundreds ; at Weir Bottoms Church, Drury's Bluff, Cold Harbor, Chapin's Farm, second battle of Fair Oaks, Spring Hill : all the fighting around Richmond, Petersburg and capture of the same ; also the pursuit and capture of Gen Lee and his army at Appomatox, Va., April, 1865. At the return to Richmond he was mustered out as before stated, and then came the return to the home at Sherman Mills. Since the War he has held the offices of Postmaster, Trial Justice and Justice to the Peace."

"...Asbury Caldwell, the ninth child in the foregoing Family Record, was a brave Volunteer of the Civil War; the blood chills to read the brief story of his burial: He was shot in the battle before Petersburg. His brother, John Wesley Caldwell, was in the fight. He sought and found the body of Asbury. He entered a rebel house at night, and with the light of candles obtained a mantel, and inscribed the name of his soldier brother upon it, and placed it at the head of the hastily made grave. The rebels soon destroyed it. He also engraved the name in a Sycamore, close by. While at work upon the mantel, the bullets of the enemy were freely sprinkled upon the house, and the work had to be completed in the security of the cellar. "

The Diary of John Wesley Caldwell, 1865

Tuesday, April 4, 1865

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