The first part of Leander G. Woolard’s Journal details his experiences as a member of the Senatobia Invincible from March 23, 1861 until April 1, 1862. The Invincible, along with nine other North Mississippi companies, were part of the Ninth Regiment, commanded by Col. J. R. Chalmers. They participated in the campaign for Pensacola in October and in late February was sent to Cumberland Gap in late February. The Senatobia Invincible enlistments expired in late March, and the company returned to Senatobia in early April. This excerpt starts at that time.

Passed Bragg’s Army at Corinth on the 31st and Staid in Memphis that night. Oh! What feelings swell in the heart when we approach near the loved friends and homes of our childhood after a long absence. On the next day the 1st of April [illegible] and friends by the hand who gave us a hearty welcome home. And now after having been absent from home for twelve month and five days, during which time we had gone through many hardships and had often brought ourselves to believe that we would never reach home again. But a merciful God had in store for us a better fate than we were willing to believe. We spent a few leisure days in visiting till about the 10th of April, we commenced trying to get our company reorganized to go up to Corinth to take part in the a second battle which was looked for there--the first having been fought there or near there--Shiloh--on the 8th & 9the But our boys were not yet satisfied with their short furlough. So after some hard riding , a good deal of talking and persuasion we got up another company and organized it partially by electing W. A. Feeney Captain on the 9th and L. G. Woolard 1st Lieut. & R. F. Ward 2nd Lieut on 10th of May 1862, which brings me now to

Some of the members of our old company have a curiosity to try the Cavalry Service, Some join other companies already in the Service and some again staying at home, when we organized this we found we had only 25 of our Pensacola boys, as they are called. The first company was composed almost entirely of boys & unmarried men, this one composed almost entirely of married men except the members of the old company. On the next page is a copy of the first Muster Roll of the company sent up while we were at Oxford Miss.

On the 12the of May 1862 there was a large concourse of friends & relatives assembled at Senatobia to bid us “a long farewell.” We stated and reached Grenada Miss. That night about 10 o’ clock. Camp in the wood near Town without tents for Several days. We went to Grenada for the purpose of joining a Regiment then being formed there by Dr. Hillery Mosely. We found Judge Hugh R. Miller there also trying to get up a Regiment. Between these two the Co.’s were divided, but we finally made a compromise by choosing Capt. or Judge Miller Colonel and Dr. Moseley Lt. Col. On the 14th we were mustered into the Service by Miller for a Term of three years or during the war, and on the same day after many ballots John W. Godfrey was elected for 2nd Lt. We found the citizens around Grenada possess very little sympathy for soldiers--extorted the last cent they could get for what they had to sell--gave away nothing and some even refused to give away water. I suppose they did not like to have their ease and comforts disturbed by the wants by those who had sacrificed all the pleasures of home in a common cause.

On the 16th we went to Oxford. On the 17th we elected Miller Col. Moseley Lt. Col without opposition. Capt. W. A. Feeney of our Company was elected major by a large majority over Capt. Meek. By this promotion of Capt. Feeney, Lt. L. G. Woolard was promoted to the Captaincy of the Invincible, the other Lts. rising in like manner. B. F. Wham, [?] O. S. was elected for 2nd Lt. The non-commissioned officers were all allowed to rise in the same manner, and I made L. W. Pearce my orderly Sergt. They now stand thus,

L. W. Pearce 1st Sergt.
S. L. Walker 2nd Sergt.
J. C. McNeeley 3rd Sergt.
J. G. Wham 4th Sergt.
B. F. Hall 5th Sergt.
S. M. Woollard 1st Corp.
Jas Terry 2nd Corp.
H. B. Bradley 3rd Corp.
Jas. O. Powell 4th Corp.

We now commenced drilling in Company and Squad drill. Soldiers being rather a novel sight at Oxford a considerable number of ladies visit our camp to see us drill. Here we found the citizens just at antipodes with the citizens of Grenada in their treatment of Soldiers. The Ladies instead of shutting both their doors & hearts against them opened both and even sought opportunities of administering kindness to those who were deprived of the smiles of mothers, wives, sisters and (illegible). One family I must mention as being very kind to us: A Mr. Eades, a merchant of Oxford. Here we found some very female acquaintances. On the 24th Dr. M. O. Repel, Surgeon of the Regt. examined all the men , and gave certificates of disability Julius Chisholm, W. S. House, R. W. Powell who were discharged respectively on the 28, 29 & 30 of May. On the 8th of June H. B. Sullivan was discharged. June 12th 1862. Left Oxford where we had spent a few very pleasant days, and moved under orders from General Ruggles to Grenada again. About this time Col. Miller procured an order to take his Regt to Richmond Va. which caused great dissatisfaction among the married men who disliked to go so far from their families. Some thirty or forty deserted, though most of them after they were with their families a few days repented and returned to camp. About the 16th I went home on Furlough to once more bid farewell to the loved ones there. On the 22 we left Grenada about midnight for Richmond. We stopped one day at Jackson Miss. the 23rd where we found the citizens, as at Grenada, selfish and negligent of the wants of soldiers. Those who could be induced to do anything for our men at all charged two prices for it, and many even refused to let us have water. So much so that we suffered very much from thirst. We all gladly crowded into box cars that evening to leave the place which with Grenada have acted disgracefully to the fair men of Mississippi. We went by the Southern route, viz., Montgomery, Ala., Augusta Geo, Wilmington N. C. and arrived at Richmond on the 3rd day of July, and camped at Camp Lee in new Fairground. In a few days a heavy detail was made from the Regt to guard Yankee Prisoners at the famous “City Prison”, and the remainder of my company with two others were detailed to patrol the city of Richmond to arrest stragglers from the army both officers & privates. On the 9th we drew muskets for this purpose. We were furnished with flies instead of tents--the most to which during several rain storms we had blew over at which the new members complained a great deal. 21st Left Camp Lee and went to Camp Mott. On the 23rd Capt. Woolard was taken sick of camp fever. On the 24th we commenced guarding Yankee prisoners on Belle Isle on Island on James River opposite the city. There were at times 6 and 7 thousand Yankees, and it was amusing to hear our boys tell of the doings and sayings of the Yankees. Our whole Regt. supplied themselves with oil-cloths and canteens & knapsacks. Among the amusing sayings of the yanks was a habit of calling all poor dirty men fellows among them “Jeff Davis.” Nothing of importance occurred during the remainder of July.

Capt Woollard went to the house of a Mr. Green under the advice of the Surgeon where he remained until the 21st when he returned to camp being much improved in health, owning more than to anything else, to the kindness he meet with at the hands of Mr. Green and his kind family. This and the quiet peaceful [illegible] thing at “Rose Law Place” as his magnificent residence was called will long possess a green spot in his recollection. He found the members of the company very much dissatisfied with the administration of the 1st Lt., but was satisfied that the dissatisfaction sprung principally from the natural disposition of soldiers to complain, and tried to convince them that Lt. W. could have no possible reason to bear down too much on them.

14th. My Co. B. and Co. “D” ordered under Maj. Feeney to Mayo’s Island Situated in the James River immediately between Richmond & Manchester. Here we remained on very pleasant & light duty until the 19the when we went to Camp Lee again. Maj. Feeney reported to the Regt. & left Capt. Woollard in command of Detachment. We had the very disagreeable duty here of guarding our own unfortunate Soldiers who had been taken prisoners by the Federals and paroled, and also some conscripts who had to be sent to the Army.

November 24th. Gen. Lee’s army having arrived and the Yankee Army under Burnside appearing on the opposite bank we were relieved from picket and went back to barracks. On the Evening previous General Sumner sent over to Col. Ball, under flag of truce, a demand for the surrender of the city. The Yankee Gen’l was surprised to learn that General Longstreet would return an answer soon, for they supposed they had beaten Lee there and would take possession of the city & then march on to Richmond, before Lee could intercept him. Gen. Longstreet returned answer that Gen Sumner could not occupy Fredericksburg, nor cross the river either. Sumner then gave 15 hours for the citizens to leave the city when he would reduce it with his artillery, consequently we were ordered to move out next morning which we did next morning and were temporarily attached to Gen. Barksdale’s Brigade. Col Miller now tried to get an order for us to return to the Regt or for the Rgt to go to Fredericksburg. But Gen. Smith said he could not spare the Regt. And he wanted our Detachment to wait a few days to share in the glory of the fight as we had acted so well and done such good Service in keeping the enemy in check. But no prospect of an immediate fight appearing we were ordered on the 25th to return to Richmond, which order we obeyed with alacrity for we had no cooking utensils, no axes and in fact none of the few necessaries of camp life. We were gladly welcomed at Camp Mott that night by the balance of the Regt. On the 27th we moved to camp Liddell 3 miles north of Richmond.

13th December 1862.
Regiment left on short notice and marched through city down river near Drewry’s bluff. Camped--cooked rations--and on 15th took cars for Goldsboro N.C. The Yankees were there advancing on this place. Our Regt. Marched onto the battle field late in the evening just as the enemy began to retreat, after having driven the North Carolina troops from the RR bridge over the Muse River and burned it. The next morning the enemy had disappeared--retired to Newbern. On 26th Capt. Woolard returned to camp having been left sick at Richmond. Thus we left the capital of the Southern Confederacy, after having camped for six months in its vicinity--performing all sorts of military duty. Richmond will long occupy an important place in my memory--though I am sorry to say, not so much for its merits as for its crimes. Being then, during the blockade of Charleston, Mobile & New Orleans, the Emporium of the Confederacy, and the general rendezvous of the Eastern army, it was the nucleus around which clustered the gamblers, the robber, the rowdies, the speculators, the extortionist and the representatives of all other species of villainy, not only for the whole South but from the slop shops and gambling hells of Baltimore. There had been some noble youths from the city slain in battle and many were still in the army but there could be seen at any time hundreds of men loafing & skulking about the streets who should have been in the army, but who were seeking every opportunity to rob or swindle soldiers and their helpless families. The present population of Richmond has certainly made an improvement in the sin and wickedness of Sodom & Gomorrah, and were it not for the effect it would have towards continuing the war, we would not care if the Yankee should give it a similar fate. The respectable citizen say there are not half a dozen business houses in the city kept by native citizens. The foreigners who run the blockade with goods from Maryland and sell them at enormous prices--e. g. shoes for from $12 to $30, boots $25 to $50, hats from $10 to $40--coffee $5 pr. lb. Butter $3--Grey uniform pants $50. Coats $14 Va brandy $30 per gal. or 50 cts pr drink. Everything else in proportion. Then under these circumstances we were glad to see a prospect of finding a place where we could buy some of the luxuries of life at reasonable prices. This place we found in Goldsboro until the shop keepers & citizens found that the Mississippi Soldiers would pay any price they would ask for what the soldiers wanted. They soon learned how to extort form soldiers. For some time after the fight, we were required to keep three days rations cooked & in our haversacks, expecting a fight some where soon again. But soon the impression spread that there was no prospect of fight, and the men of the 2nd & 11the Miss. Regt. Of our Brigade being mostly young men who had been in the service a long time, spread over the country and committed a number of petty depredations, which, of course, they meant for men past time, but which the Tar heels, as the boys call the citizens, thought were outrageous crimes. Christmas as spent by the boys in a quiet manner, except a few who had a bucket of egg-nog which cost them $24, & red eyes next morning. I spent the day on the cars & the night in Petersburg, [illegible] little place containing some intelligent persons, but certainly the amount of ignorance & the low life that we see abounding in this vicinity is unpardonable, and reflects but little credit on the old North State.

February the 14th 1863. We lay in camp at Goldsboro until this date when we received orders to start immediately on foot & without baggage to Greenville N. C. We marched 50 miles that night, next day marched 21 miles--next day 19 miles--passed through Snow Hill--a very nice little place on the (illegible) River. Next morning marched through Greenville on Tar river--and saw where the Yankees had a short time previous, set fire to the bridge but afterwards allowed the citizens to extinguish it. Camped that night the 17th at hard Shell Baptist Church 5 miles north of Tar River. On this march we passed over some of the best country in North Carolina--in fact we saw evidences of as good corn & cotton having been raised as we meet with in Mississippi. Here we got a few shad--the first of that delicious fish I ever tasted was here. Nothing important occurring we left this place on the

20th of February.
Under orders to go to Tarboro, the nearest point of Rail way communication. Marched 16 miles. Next day marched 11 miles and camped on bank of River opposite Tarboro. That night it rained very hard. We had borrowed some tents and the water rose so rapidly as to rise in the tents and catch some of the boys in them who had to wade out. Before morning some of the tents were nearly covered and had to be dragged out with horses. The next morning we moved over into the court house market house etc. This day the 22nd being Sunday, Captain Lock, myself and our Lieuts invited Mr. Witherspoon, our chaplain to preach to our companies in the court house. This being a very cold, disagreeable day a great many of the men of the Regiment got drunk but did no damage. Next morning the 23rd started to Rocky Mount marched 16 miles in 5 hours and notwithstanding the men were very tired some of them went out foraging, as they call it, and one unfortunate old fellow, who had the misfortune to live near our camp lost 116 chickens & a number of geese that night. Next morning marched to Depot Rocky Mt.--no cars being ready staid till next evening. The Factory being stopped the boys had a gay time with Factory girls.

25th Started to Franklin on cars--run all night on flats, too much crowded to sit down; reached Franklin about day on morning of the 26th or rather Murfrees Station 3 miles from Franklin. Found the country low and swampy--could not find a dry space large enough to camp [renlasly]. Weather cold & raining. 27th & 28th lay in camp and rested.

March 1st 1863
Clear but windy--nothing stirring. 2nd. We visited Masonic Lodge held by 11the Miss. Regt in an old house one mile from camp on Nataway River. Heavy drill. Rode in cars down to Franklin. Found it to be the remains of a once nice little village on the right bank of the Blackwater. River blockaded by two vessels sunk in current. Bought 1 pound of an article called soda, half salt, the other half something else for $5. 1 pound confederate coffee for 75 cts. Yankee deserter came into camp. 3Rd. Today we have had another heavy drill. Two ladies ran through the Yankee lines and are now at Gen. Pryors Head Quarters.

4th Cavalry Scouts report advance of Yankees. Brigade ordered down the Blackwater to meet them--but before we got to the place where the Yankees had been seen they returned to their quarters and we to ours. They captured three of our cavalry pickets. 5th Regimental inspection.

Woolard’s Journal skips to June 25, 1863 on the march to Gettysburg

June 25th 1863

This morning Gen. Heths Division, A. P. Hills Corps crossed the Potomac one mile below Shepherdstown, our Brigade Gen. Joe R. Davis being second from the first. Water nearly waist deep, very [illegible] and bottom very [illegible] with large rocks--passed on through Sharpsburg found the inhabitants quite at a loss to [illegible] receive us--if as enemies we might destroy their [illegible] if as friends the Yankees when we have left them again, which of course they thought we would do, might also punish them for disloyalty. So they must have concluded collectively to receive us both individually for while some sat in open doors and scowled upon us other would smile & wink at us while some other would wave white handkerchiefs & confederate flags standing back inside their houses fearing I suppose to let their neighbors know they sympathized with the rebels. Oh what a state of affairs was has brought upon the inhabitants of border towns & cities--each citizen afraid to act as his conscience & judgment dictates last his neighbor should betray him. But after all, these very persons who saluted us with smiles & the stars a& bars may be our bitterest enemies & vice versa those who frowned at us may have wished us well--camped at Hagerstown. Rained all night, and still raining next morning the 26th when we resumed the march. Camped near Waynsboro Pennsylvania. My Company “B” sent in to town as Provost & picket guard--very nice little place--citizens all against us but kind & polite--large amount of brad & meat levied upon the inhabitants. 27th Marched to Greenwood Pa. 28th Sunday--laid up to rest & recruit health & strength. 29th Marched over mountain--South Mountain--I believe--and to Cashtown--Co. “B” sent out with engineer to scout & select I supposed a battleground. Regiment went to the right at Millerstown where that night it had a little skirmish with enemy’s cavalry--nobody hurt.

30th All returned to the foot of mountain & camped.

July 1st 1863. Division started early from Cashtown towards Gettysburg--Marched about 5 miles and heard skirmishing in front. Gen. Archer’s Brigade being in front deployed into line of battle to the right of the turnpike, Gen. Davis being next deployed to the left. [Illegible] were saluted by the roaring of cannons [illegible] of shells & the skirmishers firing [illegible]. While advancing under the fire of Artillery & musketry-myself & Capt. Lock Co’s B & D were ordered to deploy our companies as skirmishers in front of the Regiment. Before my men had time to deploy, two of them Brothers Mitch & Jack Scott, which latter had just that morning been transferred to my company, were wounded but on we went firing at and driving the enemy’s skirmishers ahead of us when, just as we were charging them, we came to the top of a hill in a wheat field & behold a regiment of the blue bellies immediately in front & not over 100 yards from me. Just as they leveled their guns to fire, quick as thought I gave the command to “lay down” and a shower of balls passed over our heads--wounding a few of my men. Just then I noticed the right & center of our Regiment giving way--myself & Lt. Wham placed ourselves behind my company and forbid any man to move back at the risk of having a sword run through him--though I believe this was entirely unnecessary as not a man showed a willingness to go back but rather an anxiety to go ahead. Some man in Co. “G” Capt. Gaston said there was an order to retreat--I said there was no such order and called upon them to stand with Co. B, which they nobly did. Just then I noticed the 2nd Miss. Regt., Col Stone, moving forward on my left--and also Major Feeney of the 42nd shouting at us to go ahead--then with a shout--such as Southern men otherwise alone can give, we rushed forward and drove the line of the enemy that confronted us down the hill. Here a number of men were wounded, & here also my company took a number of prisoners whom Lt. Wham took to the rear: here also our fire killed every man & every horse at a battery that had been [illegible] havoc in our ranks. I think that [illegible] 30 of the 1st Regiment which confronted [illegible] : but just as we were passing over [illegible] Road and while we were felling that the day at that point at least, was ours, lo--a cloud of blue coats, fresh & eager for the fray confronted us,--an order down the line, from whom I cannot tell, to ay down in a cut for a rail road nearby. Well we obeyed & in obeying sacrificed our freedom for a time at least, for the cut was too deep to fire over except at the extreme left and the 2nd Miss & 55 N. C. having loped over my company were to thick to either fight or escape. Consequently the Brigade of the enemy in our front had but to come up & take us in, which they did after killing a number of men all round me. Several of my own company. I tried to make my way out & escape but the press was very great and just as I was trying to squeeze through, a big Wisconsin man thrust his bayonet at me and said, “Give me that sword & stop your men from shooting here or we will kill the last damned one of you.” I will never forget, & yet can never describe my feelings & thoughts just at that time, when I found I was a prisoner. Well as minnie balls & shells were still falling thick around us our captors hurried us off out of danger. Our captors, both officers and men being soldiers, knew how to treat soldiers, though their enemies, who had been unfortunate enough to fall into their hands, but as we passed through town Gettysburg, some of the citizens, a few miserable cravens who were too cowardly to engage in honest warfare against us, jeered and laughed at us from their doors, tops of houses & other places of safety--miserable us [illegible] they never felt an emotion so pleasant and lively as those which swell the bosom of the brave, honest soldier who fights his enemy while armed but sympathizes with him when the fortunes of war have disarmed him and placed him in his power. There is honest [illegible] disgrace for the [illegible] who cries war, war but will not fight [illegible] I am sorry to say few women also [illegible] I know they had no friends in the army. I am glad to know that most of them expressed an honest sympathy for us & seemed to take pleasure in supplying us with water. Through town & out of danger we were halted in an old field and we sat down to rest. A Surgeon came and dressed the wounds of our men with care. We had been here not more than an hour when we saw a mighty rushing of wagons, ambulances & artillery towards us which was from the battle ground. Then the roar of our guns came nearer and we knew the enemy was falling back our boys passing then back through town--then our captors--cavalry partaking of the spirit of the rear movement, started us at almost a “double quick” towards Baltimore. About 6 or 7 miles out and almost sunset we were halted again in an old field and soon the most of us were asleep which it may be supposed came to our wearied limbs very readily--after we had been on the tramp ever since soon in the morning--part of the time fighting and charging the enemy at “double-quick.” But we were not allowed this [illegible] very long; about 9 o’clock at night we were aroused and started out again--met a great many regiments going to Gettysburg--Stopped about day next morning--the 2nd at Tarrytown--here we were put with another squad making in all 840--including 52 officers--an attempt was made here to give us rations, but not more.

Capt. Woolard’s Journal continues during his captivity until March 1865.

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