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 six parts that will be posted here every four days throughout April.
Part One: From John Brown to the Battle of Seven Pines
From the outbreak of the Civil War, a 22-year-old Alexandrian and a Confederate Army private named John R. Zimmerman resolved, in his words, “to keep a diary of events as they occur during the war (should my life be spared) which may prove of interest to me in after years.” He was faithful to his vow and daily, seemingly whatever the conditions, penned an entry of what had occurred that day. Because he participated in the conflict from the very outbreak of hostilities until Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, his diary is a rich source of information for subsequent generations about the war, as seen through the eyes of a young soldier with a quite evident taste for adventure.
On May 24, 1861, Zimmerman began his account by lamenting the outbreak of the conflict: “After vainly hoping the dark clouds of war which have been so long hanging over us would be turned aside, we find we are doomed to disappointment. Hostilities have begun in Virginia.” A member of what previously had been called the Alexandria Riflemen and subsequently became Company A of the 17th Virginia Volunteer Regiment, he then looked back to the Fall of 1859 and his earlier deployment to Harper’s Ferry, at that time in Virginia:
I was with the Co. at Harpers Ferry during the John Brown raid into and after his trial and conviction. With others from the Co. was ordered to Charlestown by Gov. Wise and I was present at his execution. In the intervals of guard duty I visited him in the jail and talked with him. He said the great mistake he made was in in letting the train leave Harpers Ferry thereby notifying the government of his seizing the gov armory.
Leaving Harper’s Ferry after the execution, Zimmerman and his unit returned to Alexandria. Months later as war seemed imminent the Alexandria Riflemen went into barracks in the Stoneybrook Building at the northeast corner King and Columbus Streets. They drilled daily, anticipating hostilities. The moment came on the morning of May 24, 1861, a day after Virginians voted to leave the Union, Federal troops stormed across bridges and from ships and barges in the Potomac to take possession of Alexandria. Zimmerman and his comrades packed up and hurriedly left town. He described what happen next:
We continued our march through West End - passing my home - my mother and sisters at the door and waving us on. When about a mile outside the city saw the trains, which had been sent off to return each night for security, coming in. Maj. Case rode down to the tracks, signaled the train & turned them back to the crossing where we boarded them and moved on to Manassas, arriving about 1 PM. We found assembled there about two thousand troops including our Battalion & the 17th Regt.
Zimmerman would be assigned to the 17th Virginia for the duration of the war. Over the next few weeks, the troops bivouacked along Bull Run, initiallly without tents, drilled frequently and readied for a Yankee attack. General Lee visited the camp on May 28. Zimmerman, who often referred to him as “Marse Robert,” described the visit: Gen. Robt. E. Lee arrived and was greeted with hearty cheers as he is well known to many of us Alexandrians and was often seen on the streets of our city when he rode from Arlington & sits his horse with wonderful grace and dignity. It is a real pleasure to gaze upon him. Indeed I do not think I ever looked upon a nobler form.
The expected clash came in mid-July 1861 when word was received that Federal troops had begun their long expected march from Washington toward Manassas. The 17h Virginia was deployed to Blackburn’s Ford, about three miles from the town and a point where a road crossed from Manassas to Centerville. One of the first serious skirmishes of the Civil War occurred there as Union forces sought to occupy the location. Zimmerman reported:
Gen. Longstreet, who stood near me, noticed the fire....Gen L now ordered my Co & one other across the stream to attack the enemy and away we went, the Gen cheering us as we dashed through the water and rushed up on the hillside and were soon among the enemy....We drove back the enemy skirmishers, killing and wounding some and capturing a few prisoners. Their main line on the plateau above us did not advance to attack us and later we rec'd orders to re-cross the stream and on reaching the West side were relieved by the 7th La Regt and another Regt of Gen Early's Brigade that had been ordered up to support our line....After our artillery opened up, just to our right we heard nothing more from the enemy's infantry but their artillery on both sides kept up a rapid fire for about an hour. But as we were protected by the bluff or hills opposite us we suffered no harm beyond the bringing down of tree tops and big branches on us. My Co lost one man killed (Tom Sangster) & one slightly wounded. The loss in our Brigade I hear was 68 or 70. The enemy had the advantage of numbers, position, and heavier guns but we won in the fight. The affair lasted from about 12:30 to 5 P.M. and our men are in fine spirit over our success in this our first fighting event. It was not a big battle but believe it only a prelude to one.
Zimmerman was right. The next day the battle known as First Manassas or Bull Run occurred, the first major clash of the war. Again the result was the same. The Confederates were victorious as the Federal forces fled from the field. Zimmerman would not see action in that battle because the 17th Virginia was held in reserve but then participated in the pursuit of the Union forces. He called it “a glorious sight”: At every stop we had abundant evidence of their complete rout and panic: quarters of beef were hanging on the trees by the wayside, piles of boxes of crackers & coffee, pots and kettles for cooking, blankets to haversacks, rubber blankets to canteens. They seemed to have been completely panic stricken and in their flight had thrown away everything that would impede their flight.
After chasing the beaten Yankees for two hours, Confederate troops were ordered to return to Bull Run. Zimmerman observed: I cannot imagine why the pursuit was abandoned. All of us were in high spirits over our victory and were anxious to press on. And we had three or four or more brigades of fresh troops who, while they had been under fire all day, had taken little active part and had suffered but little loss. Military historians, with the benefit of hindsight, have asked the same question that Zimmerman did on the day of the battle. While highly respectful of his superior officers, the Alexandria youth was not shy about questioning their tactics, at least to his diary.
After Manassas, Zimmerman and the 17th went into camp near Centerville where they stayed for the winter, which was unusually harsh, resulting in extreme hardship and considerable sickness among the troops. With the coming of spring, the regiment moved south to help protect Richmond from the army of Union Gen. George McClellan. In April, 1862, they engaged in a major battle at Williamsburg. The 17th took heavy losses with 65 officers and men either killed or wounded, about one-third of its strength. Zimmerman emerged unscathed.
His diary account of the battle was curiously devoid of details. He described the aftermath, however, saying: “Sorry we had to leave so many of our brave comrades, many of whom because of their fearful wounds we could never hope to see again on earth.” He broke from the ranks in order to find his comrade and fellow Alexandrian, Charles McKnight, who had been wounded but would survive. At the makeshift hospital Zimmerman ran down a row of cots and saw his commanding officer, Captain Humphries, unconscious and dying. Not finding McKnight he rejoined his regiment as they marched to meet Union Forces around Richmond at the Battle of Seven Pines. Like Williamsburg, this was a fearsome battle. Zimmerman described the scene:
We were under a terrible fire from the enemy's artillery and also their line of battle now formed along a body of woods in our front. Our loss at this time was very great and I do not think at any time during the war shall we be under a heavier fire. Belgian rifle shells, minie balls, cartridges, buck shot & ball fall like hail about us. The enemy fired low and many were shot after they had fallen. Once again the 17th took considerable casualties. Zimmerman was not hurt. [End Part One.]
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