To Gettysburg and Back: The 1863 Diary of Robert Sherrard Bell

by Trish Ridgeway

When Robert Bell, a private in the 1st Rockbridge Artillery, started to record events in a small 1863 daily diary, he had no idea of the marches and battles he would record. And, as all soldiers, had no idea what diary entry might be his last. 

Bell enlisted in the 1st Rockbridge Artillery in Winchester on Nov. 19, 1861, when the company was camped near Kernstown. He was captured at the First Battle of Kernstown on March 23, 1862, sent to Fort Delaware in Maryland, exchanged in August, and rejoined his unit on Oct. 15, 1862.

Bell began his diary on Jan. 1, 1863. While in camp near Fredericksburg, he mainly writes of his daily routine-weather, food, his health, and sermons he heard. He also relays what information he has heard of battles and skirmishes in other areas from Mississippi to Fairfax Court House to Kentucky. His unit participated in 2nd Fredericksburg on May 2-3. On May 10, Bell learned of the death of Stonewall Jackson, reporting “a feeling of untold sorrow through the army.”

On June 3 Bell notes that the unit received orders to cook 2 days’ rations. The next day his unit moved from camp at Hamilton’s Crossing at 5 p.m. and marched 5 miles to Guinea Station. They marched to Spotsylvania Courthouse, then to Culpepper Courthouse. They rested for a couple days at Culpepper Courthouse where Bell recorded he was issued a new pair of shoes. On June 11, they began marching again; on the 12th he writes that they marched from Little Washington to the Winchester side of Front Royal, a distance of 23 miles. He was able the evening of June 12 to visit his Uncle Robert Bell who lived near Front Royal. His reaction to the visit shows the more emotion than is shown anywhere else in the diary: “experience a feeling of my lost estate as have never felt before . . .”

On June 13 Bell’s marched with his unit to Kernstown and then went into position about midnight. On Sunday, June 14, they moved to Winchester,

“Marched over to the rear of the Yankee forts-the Regiment opened fire upon the forts about 5:00. Changed our position about 10:00 night, took position in one of the forts. Monday 15–Yankees evacuated their forts, left the wagons and stores. Fight occurred at Stephensons; captured about 4000 prisoners and 24 pieces of artillery; we receive two 20 pounders.”

The defeat of Milroy’s forces at the 2nd Battle of Winchester cleared a path north for Lee’s Army. And Bell’s unit also headed north, marching to Martinsburg on June 17. They moved on to Shepherdstown, then to Sharpsburg, Hagerstown, Chambersburg, Shippensburg, and close to Carlisle. On the marches through the Pennsylvania, Bell greatly appreciated what he called “splendid country.” In describing their June 25 camp near Shippensburg, Bell wrote, “Had a fine bed of straw, most comfortable bed we have had for some time-even better union lambs.”

The Rockbridge Artillery reached Gettysburg at 10:00 at night on July 1. Bell describes going into position at 5 p.m. the next day, “in an open field without protection, suffered casualties.” His description of July 3:

“Warm. Went into position early in the morning, sections separated – changed position evening under a very hot fire; heavy infantry firing and charged the Yankees position and was repulsed with serious loss. Heaviest cannonading of the war occurred about 100 – Fired about 57 rounds from last position.”

In contrast to Bell’s quick notes written after an exhausting day, Edward Moore, also of Rockbridge Artillery, wrote his account of the battle in The Story of a Cannoneer under Stonewall Jackson that he started in 1876 but did not finish until 1906. His account of the cannoneering on July 3 is, of course, much fuller:

“At twelve o’clock word was passed along our lines that when two signal-guns were heard, followed by heavy firing, to open vigorously with our guns. There was no mistaking when that time came, and we joined with the three hundred guns that made the firing. For an hour or more a crash and roar of artillery continued that rolled and reverberated above, and made the earth under us tremble. When it began there was great commotion among the enemy’s batteries in our front, some of which limbered up and galloped along the crest of Cemetery Hill, but soon returned and renewed their fire on us.” (Story of a Cannoneer, p. 192)

After Gettysburg the unit again marched south. Bell continued recording in his diary in the following months. His last entry was on Thursday, Nov.5, “Windy. Very disagreeable. On picket at the Rappahannock bridge.”

Robert Bell was killed during an engagement at Rappahannock Station on November 7th, 1863. A single pontoon bridge at this location was all that stood between Lee's army and the northern bank of the river. Confederate batteries, including the Rockbridge artillery, posted on hills south of the river.

His diary and bible were returned to his family in Winchester with a letter from Corp. G. Newton Byers, who described Robert Bell’s death:

“Bob was struck while the battery was unengaged, about 5 o’clock Saturday evening, Nov. 7th. I did not know he had been struck until a half hour after it occurred, when some one coming up said that Pvt. Bell has been killed. I immediately hastened to that spot where he was lying and make this accounting of his death, from what others and myself witnessed. When struck he clasped Johnny Brown in his arms exclaiming, ‘I believe I am torn to pieces.’ Soon after he said, ‘See how uncertain life is. A moment ago I was as buoyant and full of life as any of you; now I am stricken down. It should teach us all to be prepared.’ He asked Morrison Smith to pray for him, but was suffering so severely that he was hardly able to participate in the prayer offered. After the prayer he charged Johnny Brown to give his bible to his father and tell him that he was always a dear father to him; also adding ‘bid all my friends farewell and bid them to see me in heaven,’ and requested that his body should be taken where his friends could get it.

“While enduring great pain and expressing how much he was suffering, he closed his eyes and offered in the form of a prayer ‘Jesus remove me from this pain, and then take me to live to live with Thee forever, and forever, and forever.’ Soon after this he became unconscious, lingering until about 7 o’clock , when he died.”

With the letter was attached a map showing the location of Bell’s body. After the war, the family retrieved Bell’s body and moved it to the Mount Hebron cemetery in Winchester.

Robert Sherrard Bell’s diary and Bible, the letter from Corp. Byers, and the map showing the location of Bell’s body are displayed at the Old Court House Civil War Museum in Winchester, Virginia. Robert Sherrard Bell was the uncle of Stewart Bell Jr., former Mayor of Winchester. Stewart Bell’s son, Thomas Bell, presented the diary and accompanying documents to the Museum in 2003.

Article published:  “Crossroads to History”