“The Dark Clouds of War”
The Civil War Diary of John Zimmerman of Alexandria, Virginia (1861-1865)
Transcribed, Edited and Narrated by Jack Sullivan
Foreword: Beginning in 2012, I was tasked at the Historical Division of the Alexandria VA Library with transcribing into a computer the hand-written diary of John Zimmerman, a local confederate soldier who kept a diary throughout the five years of the Civil War. While it was anticipated that the diary would be put on the library website, that did not occur and the sesquicentennial of the conflict has passed. Believing that this fascinating document is worthy of more attention, I have prepared a summary in seven parts that has been posted here every four days throughout April. This post wraps it up.
Part Seven: Battle of Five Forks, Retreat, Surrender, Home
On March 4 the 17th Virginia received orders to prepare for active field service. Subsequently the unit was marched from one place to another, filling gaps to counter Union cavalry and infantry movements threatening Richmond. Zimmerman continued on the move with his comrades until March 16 when his abdomen and limbs broke out in sores to the point where he could scarcely walk or wear a belt. Sent to the Chimborazo Hospital in Richmond, he was diagnosed as suffering from impetigo, and the doctor prescribed burning his skin ulcers with silver nitrate. On March 22 he told his diary: “I think I am better today. Probably more due to a change in my diet than to the treatment of the surgeon, which I do not approve of.” Still in the hospital five days later and chafing to get back to his unit, he upset the surgeon by telling him to prepare his discharge: “I think from his manner I trod on his professional corns....” Released the next day, Zimmerman headed southwest of Petersburg and joined the 17th Virginia at Five Forks, site of a battle sometimes called “The Waterloo of the Confederacy.” Several skirmishes, principally with Gen. Sheridan’s cavalry, caused a few casualties in the 17th Virginia during the several days leading up to the main battle. As always the Alexandrian was unhurt. The historic clash at Five Forks occurred on April 1,1865. Zimmerman described the height of the fierce combat with Union forces:
About two P.M. they began massing heavy bodies of infantry in front of the left of our Division and making strong demonstrations along that part of our line and soon the fire of the musketry on the left of our line became very heavy and continued steadily to increase in volume until it became a perfect roar and we noticed it was extending gradually to our rear. But we thought it due to the contour of our line but soon bullets began to whistle about us from several directions and we then realized the enemy were pressing back the left of our line. Two Regts were sent to their support and a battery of artillery was rushed by us to reinforce and aid that section of our line. But soon the drivers returned with their horses calling out to us as they passed us, “Oh boys, they got our guns.” They had just placed the guns in position and unlimbered when the enemy broke through our thin line at that point and captured the guns. The White Oak Road, along which our line was formed, immediately back of our line, was at the time densely crowded with men and I fully expected the captured guns would be turned on us and knew in that case our loss would be very great, but not a gun was fired.
Turning, I looked down our broken line through which the enemy were now pouring and pressing down toward our flank and rear - forcing back our men onward through the woods. But they continued to fight bravely to contest every foot of the ground. We were now pressed on three sides and the minnies were singing right merrily about us it seemed from every quarter and the men were jumping from one side of the little breastwork to the other, not knowing which was really our front.
As the Confederate defenses crumbled and attempts to regroup the battered troops proved unavailing, Zimmerman heard his regimental commander, Colonel Herbert, say “Men get out as best you can, each for himself.” He did not hesitate but moved off to the right and eventually found where members of his division were assembling and began to move with them west toward Amelia Court House. The retreating Confederates were being constantly harassed by Union cavalry as they moved. Marching day and night the troops had little or nothing to eat, forced to parch and consume kernels of corn dropped by feeding horses. By April 6, the remnants of Lee’s army passed through Amelia Court House and headed for Farmville, Virginia. On April 6, at Sailor’s Creek, a large Union force caught up with the Confederates and Zimmerman came close to death:
Then too the loud blast of a bugle call on our left sounding and a squadron of Yankee Cavalry immediately swept obliquely across our front to the support (I suppose) of those attacking our wagon train, and our line of skirmishers were at once ordered forward and the racket began and was soon in full blast. The remains of Pickett's Div also moved forw'd and they drove back the Cavalry and recovered two of the captured guns but the overwhelming mass of the enemy's infantry pressed forward and the battle was on in earnest and the fighting was indeed furious and fierce. The artillery of the enemy was also well served and was used on us with terrible effect. One shell struck Sgt Saunders, beside whom I was lying but a few minutes before when ordered forward, and seemed to explode at the moment it struck him and almost literally blowing him to pieces. Several others were killed and wounded by the same shell and Corp. Will Perry's (near me) face and hands were much pitted by the grains of powder driven under the skin by the force of the concussion. The Divisions of Gen Anderson and Custis Lee formed near us but the great wave of the enemy lines of infantry began breaking through our thin lines, killing, wounding and capturing many of our officers and men and also a large part of Gen Ewell and Custis Lee Divisions.
The Confederate losses in killed, wounded and captured were great. Among those taken prisoner was Zimmerman’s brigade commander, General Corse, and other senior officers. Zimmerman recounted that the 17th Virginia suffer heavily and that among members of his Company A, only he and one other soldier escaped. With others who had avoided capture he headed down the road to Farmville. On the way, General Lee himself rode by. Zimmerman described the moment:
Soon after starting, Gen Lee, mounted on Traveller, passed me. He was riding calmly along, leisurely and serenely, unaccompanied by any of his staff - not even a courier or an orderly. His horse's gait and his whole manner and bearing seemed like that I imagined his morning ride about Arlington, his estate near Alexandria. He bowed courteously & gracefully to his weary soldiers as he rode by them, frequently turning to them and gently raising his hat. I especially noted his frequent turning his head from right to left, scanning closely the forms and faces of the men, but not a word of rebuke or reproof to anyone of the poor, hungry and worn out fellows who were plodding along so wearily.
Hunger began to dominate Zimmerman’s thoughts and actions. Nearing Farmville, he spotted a slave cabin and was able to beg some cornbread and rye coffee. Later he came upon a pile of hams that had just been unloaded from a train. Famished soldiers made a dive for the meat. He wrote: And in the melee I secured a noble ham by crawling between the legs of a tall fellow and managed to get safely out of the struggling mass of hungry men with my prize....I soon divided the ham with my less fortunate, hungry comrades and then pushed on....
On April 8, 1865, Zimmerman was camped near Appomattox Court House. He recounted that among the remaining soldiers a number had become disheartened about the Southern cause. They were leaving the army and striking out across country to their homes. Although he professed to be for continuing the fight, he recognized that the Yanks had a stronger force and were both at the Confederate front and rear: “...We are now, I think, in a pretty bad fix.” When Lee surrendered the next day, Zimmerman’s immediate reaction was to be despondent:
But we have sad - very sad - hearts, and also very empty stomachs and having no food are terribly hungry. And from no food being in sight from any source we are indeed in a sad plight. But bad as they are, they are but secondary matters in the loss of our cause for which we have so long & forcefully contended - and the many cherished hopes for our cause - for these we grieve most deeply and sincerely & from the very bottoms of our hearts. But they, our dead comrades, were spared the terrible humiliation of defeat and so were blessed compared with us who remain.
Provided with a small amount of rations by the Union army and paroled on April 12, Zimmerman was put in a considerably brighter mood by the prospect of returning home. He and his Northern Virginia comrades were required to walk the 100 miles back to Richmond where General Grant had arranged for steamships to take them north. Reaching the Richmond, he found the city now much in ruins by fires set by the Confederates as they left. By now so footsore he could barely walk, Zimmerman boarded the U.S. government steamer Kelso and was taken to City Point. There he embarked on the steamboat I. J. Brady bound for Alexandria. It made a short stop at Point Lookout where Zimmerman professed a desire to see his old prison camp but the boat soon headed up the Potomac River. The following morning, he reached Alexandria about 7 A.M. It was April 18, only nine days after Lee’s surrender. He surprised his mother and family in a joyous reunion. In his diary for that day, the last entry of his Civil War experience, Zimmerman mused about what had befallen him and his comrades:
And now I am home again - but with what different thoughts and feelings from those I had on that morning of May 24/61 when with my Comrades we marched out of our dear old town, sad though we were because we were compelled to leave those most dear. But we were animated and cheered by the thought that we would soon return and drive out the insolent invaders. But now all is changed and all hope is gone and added to this is the sad thought that so many of my brave and noble hearted Comrades, who on that morning full of life and hope and with firm step and buoyant hearts marched out with us, are now sleeping their last sleep on a distant battlefield or some quiet hillside or some yet more lonely and secluded spot which God only knows - but His loving eyes are over all. He knows what is best and will have them in His holy keeping.
I must now bring to a close this my diary which I have faithfully kept each day during the four long and eventful years of the war. But before doing so I must record my deep and abiding sense of love and gratitude to Him who though all the years and all the vicissitudes of war with its hardship, trials, and dangers has cared for me and preserved me through them all and brought me in health and safety to my home and loved ones. To Him be all praise, honor, and glory.
[Signed] John R. Zimmerman
Co A 17th Va Infantry, Corse's Brigade
Pickett's Division, Longstreet's Corp, A. N. Va
April 18/65
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