We left camp about 4 o'clock PM & marched 4 miles & occupied the old Camp Grove that we did in the march from Bunkershill. After remaining there that night we were up aroused by the long roll at 4 next morning. Left Camps immediately for our trip on towards Martinsburg. It was a very hot & fatiguing day although no one grumbled or muttered. We reached Dartsville and taken our positions in line of battle & awaited the approach of the enemy. We were in 6 miles of Mg [Martinsburg?] where the army were in large columns. We offered them a fight for 4 days. They did not approach. We then returned back to Winchester a very hot and fatiguing day. We arrived at Camps about dark. The boys were all proud to get back home again.

We remained there about a week then was ordered to cook rations, strike tents & be ready to march at a moment's warning. We were all soon ready to move at the call of the drum. We fell in and soon marched up. A battle was expected. It was reported that Patison was advancing in large columns. We soon occupied our positions east of Winchester and remained there in line of battle until morning when we marched out about 1 qtr of a mile & struck Camps. Remained in that place 1 1/2 days expecting a battle every hour. All preparations were made for a large engagement. Thus all plantation fences were torn down for several miles around. As fight orders was immediately given to be ready to march at a moment's warning, we knew where we were a goin'. Rations were prepared, tents struck and we soon left camps. The whole army of Genl. Johnston's division. After we were out of the vicinity we were informed by Col. Bartow that we were goin' to Manassas to the aid and help of Genl. Beauregard.

There was great rejoicing & cheering on our march. All were proud to think of the positions we were again to take. We had a lively march but a very fatiguing one. We left Camps about 2:00 PM. We had to march to Piedmont, a distance of about 30 miles & about 12 o'clock that night we arrived to Shenandoah River. The chances was to wade, no other way to get over. The boys were all ready for the transportation by the time they had an opportunity to enter in they all taken it cheerful. We was all soon over & continued our journey.

We arrived at Piedmont, a station on the R-Road about 8 o'clock AM & taken bradkfast. We were all tired and fatigued but we began to hear of the Battle that was fought there the day before and it revived our hearts & strengthened our nerves. We remained there a-waiting for transportation until about 6 o'clock PM when we left for Manassas. We had a pleasant trip until a while before day[?] we were disturbed by a heavy storm. We arrived at Manassas about daylight on Saturday morning. We taken breakfast there and then was marched out about 8 miles and was halted & staked our arms in the road & awaited further orders. We remained there all Saturday night. We received orders on the following Sabbath morning to march to the battle field as usual but we were not disappointed on that march, we were all soon on the line of march. When we had marched some mile or two, we heard the cannonading commence, our hearts was filled for then we began to think it was too true to make a joke of. We could hear cannon after cannon in the direction we supposed the enemy was. We were often cheered up by our brave Sargt. Eacre [Eve? Eason?], his usual word "lively boys" he would repeat whenever the sound of the cannon was heard.

We marched briskly at a double quick when we soon reached where we were under the fire of the cannon. We still kept up the line where we were to take our position after about 8 miles march we arrived near about our position all very much fatigued although there was not a murmur to he heard from the lips of a man. We halted and thrown into a line of Battle by our gallant Lieut. Gardner who had been leading us into the Battle. But while in our position our brave Bartow came to us who had by some misfortune been lost from us during the morning. He came up with great rejoicing that he had found us again. He then taken charge of us & led us up under a heavy fire of Harrison's [?] Battery where it was playing on our Battery. We were ordered to lie down upon the ground behind our Battery.

We were exposed to a dreadful fire of bombs and balls that seemed to fill the air with heavy bursting of bombs that it appeared that the whole earth was shaking. In the air and around us upon the ground it was as many thunder claps after claps. We laid there some time when we were ordered to rise and make a charge. We were all ready to obey the command at a moment. We arose and struck out in the way direct to the enemy. We were under a heavy & severe fire of artillery. All this time & soon came in reach of the infantry when they poured a heavy volley of musketry upon us. We then instead of pitching into them we filed right which throwed us in a more better position for them to fire into us. We marched from one qtr. of a mile in double quick across an old field when it appeared the bullets came thicker than a hail storm. We were soon halted in a [?] of a pine grove where we commenced our eager fire upon the great Army in all its splendor. We kept up a heavy fire on each side for some time when we were ordered to cease firing but the order was not obeyed. The third time the command was given and then we fell back but continued the fire.

 [1862] Left Centreville on the 8th March and arrived at Orange CH on the 18th. On the retreat we lost everything when we went down towards Fredericksburg to reinforce homes. The enemy retreated. We returned to Orange. We then left on the 12th of April for Richmond. Arrived on the 13th and started for Yorktown on the 14th and got in a little fight on the 16th. We have had a hard time ever since. It rains 3 days out of five and is raining now.

[1863] Left Fredericksburg Feb the 17th. Arrived at Richmond the 20th.

27th March. Preaching by the Rev. Mr. Crumbly of Georgia to the 8th Regt. Ga. Vols.

Camp near Suffolk Va April the 18, 1863.

Guarding Negroes & a yankee & deserters & an old woman. Comd. by Sergt. Crop.

April the 2nd left Richmond and arrived at Petersburg the 3rd.

Camp near Walkers Mill, Va June the Second 1863, Orange Co., Va.

Left Va on the 25th June and came through Maryland & on & on to Greencastle Penn & on to Chambersburg on the 27th. Left Chambersburg on the 31st and arrived at Gettysburg July the 1st. The battle at Gettysburg commenced July the first. The battle was fought the first second & third. Left Penn. the 6th & came to Funkstown 6th.

Left Fredericksburg Sept the 8th 1863 and arrived at Charleston Sept the 15th.

Left Charleston Oct the 7th . Arrived at Chicamauga the 10th 1863.

[1864] We came to Kingston and taken dinner. We then came to Dalton and taken supper. We then came to Knoxville, Tenn. and taken breakfast. We then travelled all day without further interruption. We came through several little villages too tedious to mention though some of them will be remembered by some of the boys as long as time will permit them to stay on this green earth. Jonesborough and Liberty the people showed so much kindness to us they treated us as brothers and the ladies came crowding round us and gave us boquets and a nice supper and sung some melodious songs such as you rarely ever hear. They seemed to rejoice to see so many coming to their relief. We traveled on all night and arrived at Bristoll. Returned from [home?] February the 14th 1864.

The big snow fell on the 22nd March 1864.

29th May left Rome for Virginia

Dec the 9th 1864 snowed light. The 10th went a yankee hunting found a plenty.

Centerville Va December the 26

Charles city Road , VA December the 26, 64.

[1865] Charles city road Va February the 5th 1865.

Floyd left the night of the 16th Feb 1865

July the 14th:

Often I think of thee dear friend
And would rejoice thy face to see
Oh yes thy hand to shake t'would tend
To cheer and comfort while with thee.

Often I think of days gone by
Which we in friendship spent
Those days are lost to you and I
The present is only lent.

Friendship 'tis said is but a name
'Tis so with some you know
Mine is all pure warm as a flame
Which does my heart and soul o'erflow.

When I reflect on thy warm heart
Oh absence causes many a sigh
I once did hope we ne'er should part
But with each other live and die.

Often I think of thee dear friend
And would rejoice thy face to see
Oh yes thy hand to shake t'would tend
To cheer and comfort while with thee.

Often I think of days gone by
Which we in friendship spent
Those days are lost to you and I
The present is only lent.

Friendship 'tis said is but a name
'Tis so with some you know
Mine is all pure warm as a flame
Which does my heart and soul o'erflow.

When I reflect on thy warm heart
Oh absence causes many a sigh
I once did hope we ne'er should part
But with each other live and die.

When earthly toils dear friend shall cease
And life with us shall end
May we ascend to the home of peace
And one sweet sabbath ever spend.

Where you and I may sing gods praise
With all our voices all our powers
Look on his glory with amaze
And own him ever always ours.

July the 14, 1861

This book is all that's left me now
Tears will unbidden start
With faltering lips and throbbing brow
I press it to my heart.

For many generations past
Here is our family tree
My mother's hands this bible clasp'd
She dying gave it me.

My father read this holy book
To brothers sisters dear
How calm was my poor mother's look
Who learned god's word to hear.

Her angel face I see it yet
What thronging memories come
Again that little group is met
Within the halls of home.

Thou truest friend man ever knew
Thy constancy I've tried
Where all were false I've found thee true
My counselor and guide.

Though with the north we sympathize
It must not be forgotten
That with the South we've stronger ties
Which are composed of cotton.

Whereof our imports mount unto
a sum of many figures
and where would be our calico
Without the toil of negroes.

The South enslaves those fellow men
Whom we all love so dearly
The north keep commerce bound again
Which touches us more nearly.

Come Soldiers, don't grow weary
But let us suffer on
The moments will not tarry
This strife will soon be done.

The passing scenes all tell us
That peace will shortly come
Our banner waves in triumph
O'er every Southern home.

There is sweet rest for them
We never will grow weary
But battle to the end
And trust in god our Saviour.

Our country to defend
The battlefields all round us
Are red with human gore
Where friends and foe together
All sleep to wake no more.

There is sweet rest for them.

And when we close this warfare
That sets our country free
We'll change the swords to plowshares
That won our liberty.

July 14 1861

Come all ye sons of freedom and join our southern band.
We're goin to fight the enemy and drive them from our land.
Justice is our motto and providence our guide,
So jump into the wagon and we'll all take a ride.

Chorus:

Wait for the wagon...
The dissolution wagon
The south is our wagon
And we'll all take a ride.

Secession is our watch word.
Our rights we all demand.
And to defend our firesides
We pledge our heart and hand.

Jeff Davis is our president
with Stephens by his side.
Brave Beauregard our general
Will join us in the ride.

Chorus

Our wagon's plenty big enough
the running gear is good.
'Tis stuffed with cotton round the sides
and made of southern wood.
Carolina is the driver with Georgia by his side
Virginia 'll hold our flag up and
we'll all take a ride.

Chorus

There's Tennessee and Texas also in the ring.
They wouldn't have a government where cotton was not king.
Alabam too and Florida have long ago replied.
Mississippi's in the wagon anxious for the ride.

Chorus

Missouri North Carolina and Arkansas are slow.
They must hurry or we'll leave 'em
and then where would they go.
There's old Kentuck and Maryland
Each won't make up their mind,
So I reckon after all we'll have to take em up behind.

Chorus

Our cause is just and holy our men are brave and true
To whip the Lincoln cutthroats is all we have to do
God bless our noble army in him we'll all confide
So jump into the wagon and we'll all take a ride.

The storms which fate has spread above
The flower that's born but for to love
The sun that walks the noonday sky
The dew which in the flowerlets lie.

The waning light the glorious dawn
The bark upon the storm wave borne
Are type of life how soon they close
When death its shadow round it throws.

Soon will come for me the sleep
There's none to care and none to weep
But far beyond death's rolling flood
There lies a pathway marked with blood.

Upon Manassas' bloody field
at closing of the day
When starry lamps were set in heaven
a youthful soldier lay.

No mother's gentle hand was there
to soothe his troubled brow
no sisters voice was heard to cheer
In whispers soft and low.

He called a brother soldier near
for much had he to say
of those who were most dear to him
so many miles away.

My father comrade you must tell
that mid the battle strife
to keep my country's honor bright
I yielded up my life.

I know twill grieve him much to think
that I shall never more
sit at his side at twilight hour
when daily toil are o'er.

But he will consolations find
before that throne of grace
when i shall soon be called to stand
and see my maker's face.

When to my mother you shall speak
about this bloody fray
tell her in soft and gentle tones
what happened here today.

Tell her when death was on my brow
and life was ebbing fast
her many earnest prayers for me
were with me to the last.

Tell her I ask her not to grieve
for me her petted boy
but let her sad and sorrowing tears
give place to smiles of joy.

That I rejoice to give my life
on this eventful day
though on the field for miles around
the dead and dying lay.

Tell my sister that in death
of her I finally thought
and longed once more to hear her voice
with so much music fraught.

That when upon Manassas' field
I wounded dying lay
my parting thoughts were of my home
so many miles away.

"A Tribute To the Memory of Henry C. Harper"
by a Comrade