Manuscript of Civil War Lieutenant W. R. McComer

19 carnage was simply frightful The second assault was made three days later and was equally disastrous, Some of the Infantry literally carried a piece belonging to the 17th Ohio Battery to within a few feet of one of [the] a bastions and more compelled to leave it Two days later after an account of the intolerable stench of the decomposing bodies in the space between the [bases?] a truce was allowed More than a thousand dead were removed from our front alone, disfigured and swollen beyond recognition. The seige followed, fighting, digging and mining were our constant occupations until July 4th The troops immediately opposing each other reached an understanding that firing should cease at sundown. The first intimation I had of the agreement, was about a week previous to the surrender Going out one evening, into the trences [trenches] with a fatigue party, a shot was fired some [a short] distance to the left of us. The officer commanding our men was extremely indignant and [emphatically] expressed his feelings in good round English, a voice apologetically responded "That shot wasn't fired by my men." The officer thereupon got out of the ditch followed by his men. The Engineer and

20 myself [followed the men] To our amazement we were looking into the enemys ditch, upon a body of rebels outnumbering our party by half. A discussion arose between the officers about advancing our lines. Our fellow insisted that unless he could go forward, both parties had better get into their respective holes and [illegible] The matter was finally compromised [by] an allowance of twenty five yards. The rebs fell back, that distance, and our fellows commenced digging at their feet. From that time forward, we seldom missed a night in the trences [trenches]; provided with all the comforts and conveniences of life, as far as we were able to secure them, from the [setler?] and commissary, We had personal friends among our foes some of whom would stick to us as long as there was a drop [left in the] canteen or a cracker in his [illegible] sack but I must say for the credit of the majority that hard tack was esteemed most of all our contributions I had personal doubts as to the propriety of feeding our enemies, until I learned their pitiful stories and was shown specimens of their subsistance consisting of mule [--eah?] and other equally appetising [provinder?] viends As it was, neither party in the secret were disposed to communicate our relations to

21 to superior officers The [Jonnies?] for fear their rations would be stopped and ourselves because it was intensly entertaining. From the position selected we could watch the majestic ascent and rapid fall of the morter shells, rained into the city, from the river [front] that were exploding with a [concussion] reverberation [that] resembled in terrifying similarity the [illegible] of rapidly running locomotives.

To protect themselves from the death dealing missles, the inhabitants, (that were too loyal to leave.) had abandoned their houses and were occupying excavations in the clay bluffs. On the morning of the surrender, as we rode into the place, the astounding reality was presented of beautiful women, occupying these unique apartments. Some of these were sumptuously furnished with draperies drawn aside, to get a better view of the Yankee hord as they approached

I wish I could paint in words the scene that preceeded the surrender - Imagine the incessant rattle of musketry interspersed with the shriek of the Whetworth and low bellowing of the Columbiad followed at intervals by the dull concussion of [sap?] and [mine?], [continualy] which had continued for forty [days] consecutive days suddenly changed into a profound and painful silence. The rail of smoke [suddenly] raised

23 Side by side on the same road out of the city marched the vanquished and the victorious [the conquered and the conquerer] The one to his home. The other to further struggles for the right. The marches made to establish the perpetuity of the union are of no greater importance than the [Inf----?] since exercised in civil life. [The illegible --teen?] today where he always stood in the [front] [&?] battling down the enemies of right & he has dignified with the hand of a master every relation he sustains in life, and those of us who have been presented are permitted to enjoy that full realization of a nations glory which its fathers hoped for in vain.