Octave Bruso Diary: Week of October 23, 1864

Note: This is one week’s worth of diary entries of Octave Bruso, who participated in the Siege of Petersburg as a member of the 50th New York Engineers.¹

Sunday October 23, 1864

Beautiful Day. Inspection at 9 A.M. Went down to City Point. Wrote to Alex Lubor (Editor: unclear) for my gloves.

Monday October 24, 1864

Pleasent day. Cut Corduroy + Abattis (sic: abatis) all day to finish Fort McMahon. Wrote to Geo. W. Cochran for pouches $2.00

 

Tuesday October 25, 1864

Beautiful + Cool Day. Recieved marching orders from Fort McMahon + left for Hd Qrts. Was sent to Co C + L in the morning by the Capt. Recieved a letter from my Wife. Arrived beyond the Yellow House at 11 A.M. Wrote to my wife.

 

Wednesday October 26, 1864

Beautiful Day. Sent a Leslie to my Wife. Packed up + ready for a march all day. Called up at 12 o clock P.M.

 

Thursday October 27, 1864

Pleasent Day. Left our camp at 3 A.M. for the  Rifle Pits near Fort Welch. Heavy fighting all the forenoon + afternoon. Layed (sic: laid) in the Rifle Pits all night. Rained in the night.

 

Friday October 28, 1864

Pleasent + Windy. Layed (ed: laid) in the Pits until 5 P.M. when the Army returned from its Reconnoissance (sic: reconnaissance) and we returned to our old camp near the Yellow House.

 

Saturday October 29, 1864

Beautiful Day. Worked in the forenoon on a Detail and in the afternoon building us a Hut. recieved 2 letters from my wife + my Gloves from Washington.

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