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Confederate Civil War Veteran AMAZING IMPORTANT Letter & FOLK ART Archive- 1904
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AMAZING Letter & Folk Art Archive Civil War Confederate Veteran & Doctor from Mississippi Lengthy Letters, Postcards & Art Sent to young girl in North Carolina1904 - 1911 For offer, a rare and unique archival collection! A fresh, unresearched collection that holds important historical value. Vintage, Old, Original, Antique, NOT a Reproduction - Guaranteed !! This collection belongs in a museum, and contains a wealth of information. J.B. (John Bird) Foster (1839-1915) fought in the Civil War, in the 15th Mississippi Regiment, and later worked as a medical doctor in Increase and Enzor, Miss. He was very active in Veteran reunions, and wrote about them elsewhere. The archive presented here is truly amazing, and unique. J.B. Foster wrote these letters and did these incredible folk art drawings, and sent them to Miss Bonnie Eloise Mauney in Kings Mountain, North Carolina between 1904 and 1911. Miss Mauney eventually married later in life, and became Bonnie Eloise (Mauney) Summers (1897-1976). She would go on to write a history of Kings County, N.C. One can only speculate how Foster became acquainted with Bonnie. Perhaps they met at a Confederate Veteran's Reunion, which Foster regularly attended, or another way. What can be said, is that Foster poured his life into writing to this girl, and shared so much important history and AMAZING folk art. His writing style and artwork are unique in every way. He reminisces about fighting in the Civil War, talks about local happenings, gives opinions and detailed descriptions of people and surroundings, goes into detail about the Confederate veteran reunions and picnics (describes the fellow soldiers, and people), and provides these wonderful cartoon-like drawings. Some letters are VERY lengthy, and are like short stories in their own right. There are approx. 20 letters (80 large (most) pages) 15 postcards, 14 envelopes, and 4 small photos of Foster in the collection. I have imagined someone writing a novel or even a non fiction work using this collection. Transcriptions of the letters was begun, but not completed. They are included with the letters. The entire collection is housed in a 3 ring binder, and archivally safe. More work could be done to protect the collection further. There is more than shown - most artwork is shown but there are a few more pieces. Lots of writing not shown. In good to very good condition. Please see photos. If you collect 19th century Americana history, American military, battlefield, etc. this is a treasure you will not see again! Add this to your image or paper / ephemera collection. Important genealogy research importance too. Combine shipping on multiple bid wins! 2464The United Confederate Veterans (UCV, or simply Confederate Veterans) was an American Civil War veterans' organization headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was organized on June 10, 1889, by ex-soldiers and sailors of the Confederate States as a merger between the Louisiana Division of the Veteran Confederate States Cavalry Association; N. B. Forrest Camp of Chattanooga, Tennessee; Tennessee Division of the Veteran Confederate States Cavalry Association; Tennessee Division of Confederate Soldiers; Benevolent Association of Confederate Veterans of Shreveport, Louisiana; Confederate Association of Iberville Parish, Louisiana; Eighteenth Louisiana; Adams County (Mississippi) Veterans' Association; Louisiana Division of the Army of Tennessee; and Louisiana Division of the Army of Northern Virginia [1][2]The Union equivalent of the UCV was the Grand Army of the Republic HistorySee also: List of commanders in chief of the United Confederate had been numerous local veterans associations in the South, and many of these became part of the UCV. The organization grew rapidly throughout the 1890s culminating with 1,555 camps represented at the 1898 reunion. The next few years marked the zenith of UCV membership, lasting until 1903 or 1904, when veterans were starting to die off and the organization went into a gradual decline [2]PurposeThe UCV felt it had to outline its purposes and structure in a written constitution, based on military lines. Members holding appropriate UCV "ranks" officered and staffed echelons of command from General Headquarters at the top to local camps (companies) at the bottom. Their declared purpose was emphatically nonmilitary – to foster "social, literary, historical, and benevolent" ends.[3]The UCV sponsored Florida's Tribute to the Women of the Confederacy (1915) ReunionsCherokee confederates (Thomas' Legion) at the U.C.V reunion in New Orleans, 1903 Confederate veterans reunion May 19111951 Commemorative postage stamp[4]The national organization assembled annually in a general convention and social reunion, presided over by the Commander in Chief These annual reunions served the UCV as an aid in achieving its goals. Convention cities made elaborate preparations and tried to put on bigger events than the previous hosts. The gatherings continued to be held long after the membership peak had passed and despite fewer veterans surviving, they gradually grew in attendance, length and splendor. Numerous veterans brought family and friends along too, further swelling the crowds. Many Southerners considered the conventions major social occasions. Perhaps thirty thousand veterans and another fifty thousand visitors attended each of the mid and late 1890 reunions, and the numbers increased. In 1911 an estimated crowd of 106,000 members and guests crammed into Little Rock, Arkansas—a city of less than one-half that size. Then the passing years began taking a telling toll and the reunions grew smaller. But still the meetings continued until in 1950 at the sixtieth reunion only one member could attend, 98-year-old Commander in Chief James Moore of Selma, Alabama.[3] The following year, 1951, the United Confederate Veterans held its sixty-first and final reunion in Norfolk, Virginia, from May 30 to June 3. Three members attended: William Townsend, John B. Salling, and William Bush. The U.S. Post Office Department issued a 3-cent commemorative stamp in conjunction with that final reunion.[5] The last verified Confederate veteran, Pleasant Crump, died at age 104 on December 31, 1951.The Confederate VeteranIn addition to national meetings, another prominent factor contributed to the growth and popularity of the UCV. This was a monthly magazine which became the official UCV organ, the Confederate Veteran. Founded as an independent publishing venture in January 1893, by Sumner Archibald Cunningham, the UCV adopted it the following year. Cunningham personally edited the magazine for twenty-one years and bequeathed almost his entire estate to insure its continuance. The magazine was of a very high quality and circulation was wide. Many veterans penned recollections or articles for publication in its pages. Readership always greatly exceeded circulation because numerous camps and soldiers' homes received one or two copies for their numerous occupants. An average of 6500 copies were printed per issue during the first year of publication, for example, but Cunningham estimated that fifty thousand people read the twelfth issue.[6] Similar to Grand Army of the Republic / GAR reunions.See also American Civil War portalicon Society portalflag United States Memorial DayList of Confederate monuments and memorialsGrand Army of the Memorial HallConfederate Memorial Hall MuseumSouthern Cross of HonorLost Cause of the Historical in the American Civil WarSons of Confederate Veterans, headquartered in Columbia, TennesseeNotes Minutes U.C.V., I, Constitutional Convention Proceedings, pp. 3–8. Hattaway, 1971, p. 214. Hattaway, 1971, p. 215. "Arago: United Confederate Veterans Final Reunion Issue". arago.si.edu. "61st and final UCV reunion in 1951". Hattaway, 1971, pp. 215–16 ReferencesCimbala Paul A. Veterans North and South: The Transition from Soldier to Civilian after the American Civil War (Santa Barbara: Praeger, 2015). xviii, 189 pp.Dorgan, Howard. "Rhetoric of the United Confederate Veterans: A lost cause mythology in the making." in Oratory in the New South (1979): 143–73 Hattaway Herman. "The United Confederate Veterans in Louisiana." Louisiana History: The Journal of the Louisiana Historical Association 16.1 (1975): 5–37. in JSTORHattaway, Herman (Summer 1971). "Clio's Southern Soldiers: The United Confederate Veterans and History". Louisiana History. Louisiana State University. XII (3): 213–42 Marten James Alan. Sing Not War: The Lives of Union & Confederate Veterans in Gilded Age America (Univ of North Carolina Press, 2011).Primary sourcesUnited Confederate Veterans (1907). Minutes of the United Confederate Veterans. I. New Orleans, La. Retrieved April 27, 2014.United Confederate Veterans (1907). Minutes of the United Confederate Veterans. II. New Orleans, La. Retrieved April 27, 2014.United Confederate Veterans (1909). Minutes of the United Confederate Veterans. III. New Orleans, La. Retrieved April 27, 2014.United Confederate Veterans (1910). Minutes of the United Confederate Veterans. IV. New Orleans, La. Retrieved April 27, 2014.United Confederate Veterans (1910). Minutes of the United Confederate Veterans. V. New Orleans, La. Retrieved April 27, 2014.United Confederate Veterans (1920). Minutes of the Thirtieth Annual Meeting and Reunion of the United Confederate Veterans. New Orleans, La.: Rogers Printing Co. Retrieved April 27, 2014.United Confederate Veterans (1926). Minutes of the Thirty-sixth Annual Meeting and Reunion of the United Confederate Veterans. New Orleans, La.: Rogers Printing Co. Retrieved April 27, 2014.United Confederate Veterans (1896). Organization of 850 United Confederate Veteran Camps. New Orleans, La. Retrieved April 27, 2014.United Confederate Veterans (1897). Organization of 1026 Camps in the United Confederate Veteran Association. New Orleans, La. Retrieved April 27, 2014.United Confederate Veterans (1903). Organization of 1523 Camps in the United Confederate Veteran Association. New Orleans, La. Retrieved April 27, 2014.United Confederate Veterans (1908). Organization of Camps in the United Confederate Veterans. New Orleans, La.: Hyatt Stat'y Mfg. Co. Retrieved April 27, 2014.United Confederate Veterans (1910). Organization of Camps in the United Confederate Veterans. New Orleans, La.: J. G. Hauser. Retrieved April 27, 2014.United Confederate Veterans (1912). Organization of Camps in the United Confederate Veterans. New Orleans, La.: J. G. Hauser. Retrieved April 27, 2014.United Confederate Veterans (1914). Organization of Camps in the United Confederate Veterans. New Orleans, La.: A. W. Hyatt Stat'y Mfg. Co. Retrieved April 27, 2014.United Confederate Veterans (1921). List of Organized Camps of the United Confederate Veterans Corrected to August 31, 1921. New Orleans, La.: Rogers Printing Co. Retrieved April 27, 2014.United States. Cong. Senate (1918). Proceedings of the Twenty-seventh Annual Reunion of the United Confederate Veterans, the Eighteenth Annual Convention of the Confederated Southern Memorial Association, and the Twenty-second Annual Reunion of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Washington, D.C.: GPO. Retrieved April 27, 2014.External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to United Confederate Veterans CONFEDERATE MISSISSIPPI TROOPS15th Regiment, Mississippi Infantry Regiment, organized at Choctaw, Mississippi, in May, 1861, contained men from Holmes, Choctaw, Quitman, Montgomery, Yalobusha, and Grenada counties. The regiment was active at Fishing Creek, Shiloh, Baton Rouge, and Corinth, then was placed in Rust's, Tilghman's, and J.Adams' Brigade. After serving in the Vicksburg area, it joined the Army of Tennessee and participated in the Atlanta Campaign, Hood's winter operations, and the Battle of Bentonville. This unit had 34 officers and 820 men on January 7, 1862, and lost 44 killed, 153 wounded, and 29 missing at Fishing Creek. Many were disabled at Peach Tree Creek and Franklin, and only a remnant surrendered in April 1865. The field officers were Colonels Michael Farrell and Winfield S. Statham; Lieutenant Colonels James R. Binford, J.W. Hemphill, and Edward C. Walthall; and Majors William F. Brantly, James B. Dennis, Russell G. Prewitt, and Lamkin S. Terry Mississippi was the second southern state to declare its secession from the United States, doing so on January 9, 1861. It joined with six other southern slave-holding states to form the Confederacy on February 4, 1861. Mississippi's location along the lengthy Mississippi River made it strategically important to both the Union and the Confederacy; dozens of battles were fought in the state as armies repeatedly clashed near key towns and transportation nodes Mississippian troops fought in every major theater of the American Civil War, although most were concentrated in the Western Theater. Confederate president Jefferson Davis was a Mississippian politician and operated a large slave cotton plantation there. Prominent Mississippian generals during the war included William Barksdale, Carnot Posey, Wirt Adams, Earl Van Dorn, Robert Lowry, and Benjamin G. Humphreys Secession and Mississippian politicsFor years prior to the American Civil War, slave-holding Mississippi had voted heavily for the Democrats, especially as the Whigs declined in their influence. During the 1860 presidential election, the state supported Southern Democrat candidate John C. Breckinridge, giving him 40,768 votes (59.0% of the total of 69,095 ballots cast). John Bell, the candidate of the Constitutional Union Party, came in a distant second with 25,045 votes (36.25% of the total), with Stephen A. Douglas, a northern Democrat, receiving 3,282 votes (4.75%). Abraham Lincoln, who won the national election, was not on the ballot in Mississippi [1][2] According to one Mississippian newspaper in the late 1850s:The slavery controversy in the United States presents a case of the most violent antagonism of interests and opinions. No persuasions, no entreaties or appeals, can allay the fierce contention between the two ...— Mississippi Free Trader, (August 28, 1857).[3]Long a hotbed of secessionist sentiment, support for slavery, and southern states' rights, Mississippi declared its secession from the United States on January 9, 1861, two months after the Republican Party's victory in the U.S. presidential election. The state then joined the Confederacy less than a month later, issuing a declaration of their reasons for seceding, proclaiming that "[o]ur position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery--the greatest material interest of the world".[4] Fulton Anderson, a Mississippian lawyer, delivered a speech to the Virginian secession convention in 1861, in which he declared that "grievances of the Southern people on the slavery question" and their opposition to the Republican Party's goal of "the ultimate extinction of slavery" were the primary catalysts of the state in declaring secession.[5] Mississippian judge Alexander Hamilton Handy also shared this view, opining of the "black" Republican Party that:The first act of the black Republican Party will be to exclude slavery from all the territories, from the District of Columbia, the arsenals and the forts, by the action of the general government. That would be a recognition that slavery is a sin, and confine the institution to its present limits. The moment that slavery is pronounced a moral evil, a sin, by the general government, that moment the safety of the rights of the south will be entirely gone.— Judge Alexander Hamilton Handy, (February 1861).[6]Along with South Carolina, Mississippi was one of only two states in the Union in 1860 in which the majority of the state's population were slaves.[7] According to Mississippian Democrat and future Confederate leader Jefferson Davis, Mississippi joined the Confederacy because it "has heard proclaimed the theory that all men are created free and equal", a sentiment perceived as being threatening to slavery, and because the "Declaration of Independence has been invoked to maintain the position of the equality of the races", a position that Davis was opposed to.[8]William L. Harris, one Mississippian secession commissioner, told a meeting of the Georgian general assembly that the Republicans wanted to implement "equality between the white and negro races" and thus secession was necessary for the slave states to resist their efforts [9]Fulton Anderson, another Mississippian, told the Virginian secession convention that the Republicans were hostile to the slave states themselves, thus accusing the Republican Party of having an "unrelenting and eternal hostility to the institution of slavery [10]EnlistmentAlthough there were small pockets of citizens who remained sympathetic to the Union, most famously in Jones County,[11] the vast majority of white Mississippians embraced slavery and the Confederate cause. Thousands flocked to join the Confederate military. Around 80,000 white men from Mississippi fought in the Confederate army; whereas some 500 white Mississippians remained loyal to the U.S. and fought for the Union. As the war progressed, a considerable number of freed or escaped slaves joined the United States Colored Troops and similar black regiments. More than 17,000 black Mississippian slaves and freedmen fought for the Union.[12] There were regional variations, as Logue shows. almost all soldiers were volunteers. The likelihood of a man volunteering for service increased with a person's amount of personal property owned, including slaves. Poor men were less likely to volunteer. Men living near the Mississippi River, regardless of their wealth or other characteristics were less likely to join the army than were those living in the state's interior. Many military-age men in these western counties had moved elsewhere. Union control of the Mississippi River made its neighbors especially vulnerable, and river-county residents apparently left their communities (and often the Confederacy) rather than face invasion [13]Emancipation of slavesFurther information: History of slavery in of northwestern Mississippi were under Union control on January 1, 1863, when the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect. All of Mississippi had been declared "in rebellion" in the Proclamation, and Union forces accordingly began to free slaves in the U.S.-controlled areas of Mississippi at once.[14] According to one Confederate lieutenant from Mississippi, slavery was the cause for which the state declared secession from the Union, saying that "This country without slave labor would be completely worthless ... We can only live & exist by that species of labor: and hence I am willing to fight to the last [15]Mississippian towns during the warCorinthCorinth s location at the junction of two railroads made it strategically important. Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard retreated there after the Battle of Shiloh, pursued by Union Maj. Gen. Henry W. Halleck. Beauregard abandoned the town when Halleck approached, letting it fall into Union hands. Since Halleck approached so cautiously, digging entrenchments at every stop for over a month, this action has been known as the Siege of Corinth.Maj. Gen. William Rosecrans moved to Corinth as well and concentrated his force with Halleck later in the year to again attack the city. The Battle of Corinth took place on October 3–4, 1862, when Confederate Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn attempted to retake the city. The Confederate troops won back the city but were quickly forced out when Union reinforcements arrived OxfordOn August 22, 1864 the city of Oxford, MS was burned to the ground by General A.J. Smith. Only the University of Mississippi and two shops were left standing. This action was taken because Nathan Bedford Forrest had taken refuge in Oxford JacksonDespite its small population, Jackson became a strategic center of manufacturing for the Confederacy. In 1863, during the campaign which ended in the capture of Vicksburg, Union forces captured Jackson during two battles—once before the fall of Vicksburg and again soon after its fall.On May 13, 1863, Union forces won the first Battle of Jackson, forcing Confederate forces to flee northward towards Canton. Subsequently, on May 15 Union troops under William Tecumseh Sherman burned and looted key facilities in Jackson. After driving the Confederates out of Jackson, Union forces turned west once again and soon placed Vicksburg under siege. Confederates began to reassemble in Jackson in preparation for an attempt to break through the Union lines now surrounding Vicksburg. Confederates marched out of Jackson to break the siege in early July. However, unknown to them, Vicksburg had already surrendered on July 4. Union Army general Ulysses S. Grant dispatched Sherman to meet the Confederate forces. Upon learning that Vicksburg had already surrendered, the Confederates retreated back into Jackson, thus beginning the Siege of Jackson, which lasted for approximately one week before the town fell NatchezDuring the American Civil War, the Mississippian city of Natchez remained largely undamaged. The city surrendered to Flag-Officer David G. Farragut after the fall of New Orleans in May 1862.[16] One civilian, an elderly man, was killed during the war, when in September 1863, a Union ironclad shelled the town from the river and he promptly died of a heart attack. Union soldiers sent by Ulysses S. Grant from Vicksburg occupied Natchez in 1863. The local commander, General Thomas Ransom, established headquarters at a home called Rosalie [17]Ellen Shields's memoir reveals a Confederate woman's reactions to Union occupation of the city. Shields was a member of the local elite and her memoir points to the upheaval of Confederate society during the war. According to historian Joyce Broussard, Shields's memoir indicates that Confederate men, absent because of the war, were seen to have failed in their homes and in the wider community, forcing the women to use their class-based femininity and their sexuality to deal with the Union Army.[18]The 340 planters who each owned 250 or more slaves in the Natchez region in 1860 were not enthusiastic Confederates. The support these slaveholders had for the Confederacy was problematic because they were fairly recent arrivals to the Confederacy, opposed secession, and held social and economic ties to the Union. These elite planters also lacked a strong emotional attachment to the idea of a Southern nation; however, when the war started, many of their sons and nephews joined the Confederate army.[19] On the other hand, Charles Dahlgren arrived from Philadelphia and made his fortune before the war. He did support the Confederacy and led a brigade, but was sharply criticized for failing to defend the Gulf Coast. When the Union Army came he moved to Georgia for the duration. He returned in 1865 but never recouped his fortune; He went bankrupt and in 1870 he gave up and moved to New York City.[20]Bishop Elder of NatchezA few residents showed their defiance of Union authorities. In 1864, the Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Natchez, William Henry Elder, refused to obey a Union order to compel his parishioners to pray for the U.S. president. In response, Union forces arrested Elder, convicted him, and jailed him briefly.The memory of the war remains important for the city, as white Natchez became much more pro-Confederate after the war. The Lost Cause myth arose as a means for coming to terms with the Confederacy's defeat. It quickly became a definitive ideology, strengthened by its celebratory activities, speeches, clubs, and statues. The major organizations dedicated to maintaining the tradition were the United Confederate Veterans and the United Daughters of the Confederacy. At Natchez, although the local newspapers and veterans played a role in the maintenance of the Lost Cause, elite women particularly were important, especially in establishing memorials such as the Civil War Monument dedicated on Memorial Day 1890. The Lost Cause enabled women noncombatants to lay a claim to the central event in their redefinition of Southern history [21]VicksburgVicksburg was the site of the Battle of Vicksburg, a decisive victory as the Union forces gained control of the entire Mississippi River and cut the western states off. The battle consisted of a long siege, which was necessary because the town was on high ground, well fortified, and difficult to attack directly. The hardships of the civilians were extreme during the siege, with heavy shelling and starvation all around.[22] Some 30,000 Confederates surrendered during the long campaign, but rather than being sent to prison camps, they were paroled and sent home until they could be exchanged for Union prisoners [23]GreenvilleGreenville was a pivotal village for Grant's northern operations in Mississippi during the Vicksburg campaign. The area of the Delta surrounding Greenville was considered the "breadbasket" for providing Vicksburg's military with corn, hogs, beef, mules and horses. Beginning at the end of March 1863, Greenville was the target of General Frederick Steele's Expedition. The design of this expedition was to reconnoiter Deer Creek as a possible route to Vicksburg and to create havoc and cause damage to confederate soldiers, guerrillas, and loyal (Confederate) landowners. Highly successful, Steele's men seized almost 1000 head of livestock (horses, mules, and cattle) and burned 500,000 bushels of corn during their foray.[24] In addition to the damage done, the Union soldiers also acquired several hundred slaves, who, wishing to escape the bonds of slavery left their plantations and followed the troops from Rolling Fork back to Greenville. It was at this time that General Ulysses S. Grant determined that if any of the slaves chose to do so, they could cross the Union lines and become U.S. soldiers. The first black regiments were formed during the Greenville expedition, and by the end of the expedition nearly 500 ex-slaves were learning the "school of the soldier." General Steele's activity in the delta around Greenville pulled the attention of the Confederate leaders away from the Union activities on the Louisiana side of the Mississippi River as they moved on Vicksburg. More importantly, it had serious consequences for the people and soldiers of Vicksburg who were now deprived of a most important source of supplies, food, and animals. In early May, as retaliation for Confederate artillery firing on shipping on the Mississippi River, Commander Selfridge of the U.S. Navy ordered ashore 67 marines and 30 sailors, landing near Chicot Island. Their orders were to "put to the torch" all homes and buildings of those citizens guilty of aiding and abetting Confederate forces. By the end of the day of May 9, the large and imposing mansions, barns, stables, cotton gins, overseer dwellings and slave quarters of the Blanton and Roach plantations were in ruins. Additional damage was done to Argyle Landing and Chicot Island and other houses, barns and outbuildings. The destruction of Greenville was completed on May 6 when a number of Union infantrymen slipped ashore from their boats and burned every building in the village but two (a house and a church) [25][26][27]Choctaw CountyDuring the war, Choctaw County Unionists formed a "Loyal League" allied with the U.S. to "break up the war by advising desertion, robbing the families of those who remained in the army, and keeping the Federal authorities advised [28]OthersColumbus was an important hospital town early in the war. Columbus also had an arsenal that produced gunpowder as well as cannons and handguns. Columbus was targeted by the Union on at least two different occasions, but Union commanders failed to attack the town, due to the activities of Nathan Bedford Forrest and his men. Many of the casualties from the Battle of Shiloh were brought there, and thousands were buried in the town's Friendship Cemetery. Canton was an important rail and logistics center. Many wounded soldiers were treated in or transported through the city, and, as a consequence, it too has a large Confederate cemetery Meridian s strategic position at a major railroad junction made it the home of a Confederate arsenal, military hospital, and prisoner-of-war stockade, as well as the headquarters for a number of state offices. The disastrous Chunky Creek Train Wreck of 1863 happened 30 miles from Meridian, when the train was en route to the Vicksburg battle. After the Vicksburg campaign, Sherman's Union forces turned eastward. In February 1864, his army reached Meridian, where they destroyed the railroads and burned much of the area to the ground. After completing this task, Sherman is reputed to have said, "Meridian no longer exists."A makeshift shipyard was established on the Yazoo River at Yazoo City after the Confederate loss of New Orleans. The shipyard was destroyed by Union forces in 1863. Then, Yazoo City fell back into Confederate hands. Union forces retook the city the following year and burned most of the buildings in the city.Battles in at AberdeenBattle of Big Black River BridgeBattle of of Brices Cross RoadsBattle of Champion HillBattle of Chickasaw BayouSiege of CorinthBattle of CorinthBattle of Grand GulfBattle of IukaBattle of JacksonBattle of MeridianBattle of OkolonaBattle of OxfordBattle of Port GibsonBattle of RaymondBurning of SeminaryBattle of SenatobiaBattle of Snyder's BluffBattle of TupeloSiege of VicksburgThis is a list of Mississippi Civil War Confederate Units, or military units from the state of Mississippi which fought for the Confederacy in the American Civil War. The list of Union Mississippi units is shown separately Confederate ArmyInfantryTwo unidentified soldiers in early war Mississippi uniforms with muskets and L. Purnell of Co. I, 11th Mississippi Infantry Regiment1st (Johnston's) Infantry1st (Patton's) Infantry (Army of 10,000)1st (Percy's) Infantry (Army of 10,000)2nd Infantry2nd (Davidson's) Infantry (Army of 10,000)2nd Mississippi Infantry (Army of 10,000)3rd Infantry3rd Infantry (Army of 10,000)4th Infantry5th Infantry6th Infantry7th Infantry8th Infantry9th Infantry10th InfantryFlag of the 11th Mississippi Infantry Regiment11th Grays (Company A)12th Infantry13th Infantry14th (Consolidated) Infantry14th Infantry15th (Consolidated) InfantryPrivate Henry Augustus Moore of Co. F, 15th Mississippi Infantry Regiment15th Infantry16th InfantryPrivate Silas A. Shirley of Co. H, 16th Mississippi Infantry Regiment17th Infantry18th Infantry19th Infantry[1]20th Infantry21st Infantry22nd Infantry23rd Infantry24th Infantry25th Infantry (2nd Infantry27th Infantry29th Infantry30th Infantry31st Infantry32nd Infantry33rd Infantry34th Infantry35th Infantry36th Infantry37th Infantry39th Infantry40th Infantry41st Infantry42nd Infantry[2]43rd Infantry44th Infantry45th Infantry46th Infantry48th Infantry1st Battalion, Infantry (Army of 10,000)2nd Battalion, Infantry3rd Battalion, Infantry5th Battalion, Infantry7th Battalion, Infantry8th Battalion, Infantry37th Battalion, InfantryComfort s Company, InfantryCooper s Company, InfantryLewis' Company, InfantryRed's Company, Infantry (Red Battalion, Sharp Shooters9th Battalion Sharp Shooters15th Battalion, Sharp John E. Barlow of 2nd Co. M, 1st Mississippi Cavalry RegimentJeff Davis Legion1st (Wirt Adams's/Wood's) Cavalry1st (Lindsay s Pinson s) Cavalry2nd Cavalry3rd (McGuirk's) Cavalry[3]4th Cavalry5th Cavalry6th Cavalry7th Cavalry. Organized 3/1/1863 from 1st (Falkner's) Regiment, Partisan Rangers (see below).[4]8th Cavalry9th Cavalry10th Cavalry11th (Ashcraft's) Cavalry11th (Consolidated) Cavalry11th (Perrin's) Cavalry[5]12th Cavalry18th Cavalry28th Cavalry38th CavalryHam's Regiment, CavalryPower's Regiment, CavalryYerger's Regiment, Cavalry1st (Miller's) Battalion, Cavalry3rd (Ashcraft's) Battalion, Cavalry4th Battalion, Cavalry6th Battalion, Cavalry17th Battalion, Cavalry24th Battalion, CavalryGarland s Battalion, CavalryHughes' Battalion, CavalryStockdale s Battalion, CavalryStreet's Battalion, CavalryAbbott's Company, CavalryBowen's Company (Chulahoma Cavalry)Buck's Company, CavalryDuncan's Company (Tishomingo Rangers), CavalryDunn's Company (Mississippi Rangers), CavalryGarley's Company (Yazoo Rangers), CavalryGibson's Company, CavalryHamer's Company (Salem Cavalry)Knox's Company (Stonewall Rangers), CavalryPolk's Independent Company (Polk Rangers), CavalryRussell s Company, CavalrySemple's Company, CavalryShelby's Company (Bolivar Greys), CavalryVivion's Company, CavalryWilliam s Company, CavalryAmerican Indian battalion1st Choctaw Battalion, Cavalry & Light Artillery Regiment14th Battalion, Light ArtilleryBradford s Company (Confederate Guards Artillery)Byrne s Battery, ArtilleryCook's Company, Horse ArtilleryCowan s Battery, Co. G, 1st Miss. Light Artillery RegimentCulbertson s Battery, Light ArtilleryDarden s Battery, Light Artillery (Jefferson Flying Artillery)English s Company, Light ArtilleryGraves Company, Light Artillery (Issaquena Artillery)Hoskins Battery, Light Artillery (Brookhaven Light Artillery)Kittrell s Company (Wesson Artillery), ArtilleryLomax s Company, Light ArtilleryMerrin s Battery, Light ArtilleryPettus Flying Artillery, Light Artillery a/k/a Hudson's Battery and later sometimes Hoole's BatteryRichards Company, Light Artillery (Madison Light Artillery)Roberts Company (Seven Stars Artillery), ArtilleryStanford s Company, Light ArtillerySwett s Company, Light Artillery (Warren Light Artillery)Smith s Turner s Battery, Light ArtilleryYates' Battery, Light Cavalry, MilitiaHinds County MilitiaState Infantry, State Troops, 18641st (Foote's) Infantry (State Troops)1st (King's) Infantry (State Troops)2nd (Quinn's) Infantry (State Troops)2nd Infantry, State Troops, 30 days, 18643rd Infantry (State Troops)4th Infantry (State Troops)5th Infantry (State Troops)1st Battalion, State Troops, Infantry, 12 months, 1862–631st Battalion, State Troops, Infantry, 30 days, 18642nd Battalion, Infantry (State Troops)3rd Battalion, Infantry (State State Cavalry1st (McNair's) Battalion, Cavalry (State Troops)1st (Montgomery's) Battalion, Cavalry (State Troops)2nd (Harris') Battalion, State Cavalry3rd (Cooper's) Battalion, State CavalryDavenport s Battalion, Cavalry (State Troops)Stubb's Battalion, State CavalryGamblin s Company, Cavalry (State Troops)Grace's Company, Cavalry (State Battalion, ReservesInfantryBerry s Company, Infantry Cavalry Reserves2nd Cavalry Reserves3rd Cavalry Reserves2nd Battalion Cavalry Reserves3rd Battalion, Cavalry ReservesButler s Company, Cavalry ReservesMitchell s Company, Cavalry (Falkner's) Regiment, Partisan Rangers. Organized in April 1862; temporarily disbanded 11/15/1862. Reorganized 3/1/1863 as 7th Mississippi Cavalry (see above).[4]2nd (Ballentine's) Regiment, Partisan RangersArmistead s Company, Partisan RangersRhodes' Company, Partisan Rangers, CavalrySmyth's Company, Partisan RangersMiscAdair s Company (Lodi Company)Adam's Company (Holmes County Independent)Applewhite s Company (Vaiden Guards)Barnes' Company of Home GuardsBarr's CompanyBrown's Company (Foster Creek Rangers), CavalryBurt's Independent Company (Dixie Guards)Camp Guard (Camp of Instruction for Conscripts)Clayton s Company (Jasper Defenders)Conscripts MississippiDrane s Company (Choctaw County Reserves), CavalryDrane's Company (Choctaw Silver Greys)Fant's CompanyFoote's Company, Mounted MenGage's CompanyGage's Company (Wigfall Guards)Gordon's Company (Local Guard of Wilkinson County)Grave's Company (Copiah Horse Guards)Griffin s Company (Madison Guards)Hall's CompanyHenley's Company (Henley's Invincibles)Hightower s CompanyHudson's Company (Noxubee Guards)Maxey's Company, Mounted Infantry (State Troops)McCord's Company (Slate Springs Company)McLelland s Company (Noxubee Home Guards)Miscellaneous Mississippi (Mississippi)Montgomery s Company of ScoutsMontgomery s Independent Company (State Troops) (Herndon Rangers)Montgomery s CompanyMoore's Company (Palo Alto Guards)Morgan's Company (Morgan Riflemen)Morphis Independent Company of ScoutsMoseley's RegimentNash's Company (Leake Rangers)Packer s Company (Pope Guards)Page's Company (Lexington Guards)Roach's Company (Tippah Scouts)Roger's CompanyShield's CompanyStandefer s CompanyStewart s Company (Yalobusha Rangers)Taylor s Company (Boomerangs)Terrell s Unattached Company, CavalryTerry's CompanyWalsh's Company (Muckalusha County Minute MenWilliams' Company (Gray Port Greys)William's CompanyWilson's Company (Ponticola Guards)Wilson's Independent Company, Mounted Men (Neshoba Rangers)Withers Company, Reserve CorpsState TroopsBlythe's Battalion (State Troops)Gillenland s Battalion (State Troops)Grace's Company (State Troops)Maxwell s Company (State Troops) (Peach Creek Rangers)Patton s Company (State Troops)Perrin's Battalion, State Cavalry[6]Red's Company (State Troops)Stricklin s Company (State Troops)Yerger's Company (State Troops)See alsoLists of American Civil War Regiments by StateCauseyville Mississippi (also known as Increase) is a small community in southeastern Lauderdale County, Mississippi, about twelve miles southeast of the city of Meridian. The Causeyville Historic District consists of four buildings at the center of the community–two general stores and two exemplify the pivotal contribution that small communities like Causeyville made to the development of Lauderdale County. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.HistorySee also: Lauderdale County, in 1833, Lauderdale County has always been one of the most prosperous counties in Mississippi. Meridian, the county seat, is located at the intersection of several major railroads and thus served as a transportation hub for early Lauderdale County. Locals in the farming and timber industries sent their products to Meridian to be loaded onto the trains and shipped to other cities.[2]With the exception of Meridian, Lauderdale County is mostly rural, remaining largely as it was at the turn of the 20th century and even earlier. Before automobiles and personal transportation became widespread, many of the early settlers of Lauderdale County grouped into small population clusters that relied nearly entirely on local resources, each community isolated from the others. Some communities like Causeyville had a store, and some had post offices and other infrastructural institutions, but many did not have any of these buildings [2]Causeyville named after a local family that settled the area in the 1820s, thrived in the pre-Civil War era. The community was a commercial center in southeastern Lauderdale County, and its inhabitants also produced lumber and agricultural products. Though most of the buildings that fed the local economy have long been demolished, there are pictures of an antebellum store, a cotton gin, and a sawmill used for a local logging company. The four buildings in the Causeyville Historic District were built between 1860 and 1930 and demonstrate the community's growth during that period. All four buildings are located along Causeyville Road; the two general stores are on the northern side of the road, and the two residences face the stores on the southern side. The four buildings in the district are all that remain of this economy [3]Lauderdale County is a county located on the eastern border of the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2010 census, the population was 80,261.[1] The county seat is Meridian.[2] The county is named for Colonel James Lauderdale, who was killed at the Battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812 [3]Lauderdale County is included in the Meridian, MS Micropolitan Statistical Area HistoryAndrew Jackson traveled through the county on his way to New Orleans and a town was named Hickory after his nickname "Old Hickory". An early explorer Sam Dale died in the county and is buried in Daleville, and a large monument is placed at his burial site. The largest city in the county is Meridian, which was in important railway intersection during the early 20th century. It was also home to the Soule Steam Feed Works which manufactured steam engines. Logging and rail transport were important early industries in the county. One of the largest waterfalls in Mississippi, Dunns Falls, is located in the county and a water driven mill still exists on the site. Lauderdale county is also home to the headquarters of Peavey Electronics which has manufactured audio and music equipment for half a century.Like much of the post Reconstruction South the county has a checkered racial history with 16 documented lynchings in the period from 1877 to 1950; most occurred around the turn of the 20th century [4]Nearby : CitiesMeridian (county seat and largest municipality)TownsMarionCensus designated art covers all forms of visual art made in the context of folk culture. Definitions vary, but generally the objects have practical utility of some kind, rather than being exclusively decorative. The makers of folk art are normally trained within a popular tradition, rather than in the fine art tradition of the culture. There is often overlap, or contested ground,[1] with naive art, but in traditional societies where ethnographic art is still made, that term is normally used instead of "folk art".The types of object covered by the term varies considerably and in particular "divergent categories of cultural production are comprehended by its usage in Europe, where the term originated, and in the United States, where it developed for the most part along very different lines [2]American sampler, 1831Folk arts are rooted in and reflective of the cultural life of a community. They encompass the body of expressive culture associated with the fields of folklore and cultural heritage. Tangible folk art includes objects which historically are crafted and used within a traditional community. Intangible folk arts include such forms as music, dance and narrative structures. Each of these arts, both tangible and intangible, was originally developed to address a real secret. Once this practical purpose has been lost or forgotten, there is no reason for further transmission unless the object or action has been imbued with meaning beyond its initial practicality. These vital and constantly reinvigorated artistic traditions are shaped by values and standards of excellence that are passed from generation to generation, most often within family and community, through demonstration, conversation, and practice Characteristics of folk art objectsDetail of 17th century calendar stick carved with national coat of arms, a common motif in Norwegian folk art.Main article: Concepts in folk artObjects of folk art are a subset of material culture and include objects which are experienced through the senses, by seeing and touching. As with all material culture, these tangible objects can be handled, repeatedly re-experienced, and sometimes broken. They are considered works of art because of the skillful technical execution of an existing form and design; the skill might be seen in the precision of the form, the surface decoration or in the beauty of the finished product.[3] As a folk art, these objects share several characteristics that distinguish them from other artifacts of material culture.Folk artistsThe object is created by a single artisan or team of artisans. The craftsmen and women work within an established cultural framework. They frequently have a recognizable style and method in crafting their pieces, allowing their products to be recognized and attributed to a single individual or workshop. This was originally articulated by Alois Riegl in his study of Volkskunst, Hausfleiss, und Hausindustrie, published in 1894. "Riegl ... stressed that the individual hand and intentions of the artist were significant, even in folk creativity. To be sure, the artist may have been obliged by group expectations to work within the norms of transmitted forms and conventions, but individual creativity – which implied personal aesthetic choices and technical virtuosity – saved received or inherited traditions from stagnating and permitted them to be renewed in each generation."[4] Individual innovation in the production process plays an important role in the continuance of these traditional forms. Many folk art traditions like quilting, ornamental picture framing, and decoy carving continue to thrive, while new forms constantly emerge Contemporary outsider artists are frequently self-taught as their work is often developed in isolation or in small communities across the country. The Smithsonian American Art Museum houses over 70 such folk and self-taught artists; for example, Elito Circa, a famous and internationally recognized artist of Indigenouism, developed his own styles without professional training or guidance [5]Hand craftedThe taka is a type of paper mache art native to Paete in the Philippines.All folk art objects are produced in a one-off production process. Only one object is made at a time, either by hand or in a combination of hand and machine methods; they are not mass-produced. As a result of this manual production, each individual piece is unique and can be differentiated from other objects of the same type. In his essay on "Folk Objects", folklorist Simon Bronner references preindustrial modes of production, but folk art objects continue to be made as unique crafted pieces by skilled artisans. "The notion of folk objects tends to emphasize the handmade over machine manufactured. Folk objects imply a mode of production common to preindustrial communal society where knowledge and skills were personal and traditional [6] This does not mean that all folk art is old, it continues to be hand-crafted today in many regions around the world.Workshops and apprenticesThe design and production of folk art is learned and taught informally or formally; folk artists are not self taught [citation needed] Folk art does not strive for individual expression. Instead, "the concept of group art implies, indeed requires, that artists acquire their abilities, both manual and intellectual, at least in part from communication with others. The community has something, usually a great deal, to say about what passes for acceptable folk art."[7] Historically the training in a handicraft was done as apprenticeships with local craftsmen, such as the blacksmith or the stonemason. As the equipment and tools needed were no longer readily available in the community, these traditional crafts moved into technical schools or applied arts schools.Owned by the communityThe object is recognizable within its cultural framework as being of a known type. Similar objects can be found in the environment made by other individuals which resemble this object. Without exception, individual pieces of folk art will reference other works in the culture, even as they show exceptional individual execution in form or design. If antecedents cannot be found for this object, it might still be a piece of art but it is not folk art. "While traditional society does not erase ego, it does focus and direct the choices that an individual can acceptably make… the well-socialized person will find the limits are not inhibiting but helpful… Where traditions are healthy the works of different artists are more similar than they are different; they are more uniform than personal [8]Utility of the objectThe known type of the object must be, or have originally been, utilitarian; it was created to serve some function in the daily life of the household or the community. This is the reason the design continues to be made. Since the form itself had function and purpose, it was duplicated over time in various locations by different individuals. A ground-breaking book on the history of art states that "every man-made thing arises from a problem as a purposeful solution."[9] Written by George Kubler and published in 1962, "The Shape of Time: Remarks on the History of Things" goes on to describe an approach to historical change which places the history of objects and images in a larger continuum of time. It maintains that if the purpose of the form were purely decorative, then it would not be duplicated; instead the creator would have designed something new. However since the form itself was a known type with function and purpose, it continued to be copied over time by different individuals Aesthetics of the genre1978 First Indigenous Painting, mixed media with soy sauce, water and Tinting Color and enamel paint on plywood created by Elito "Amangpintor" Circa, Philippines, 1978The object is recognized as being exceptional in the form and decorative motifs. Being part of the community, the craftsman is well aware of the community aesthetics, and how members of the local culture will respond to his work. He strives to create an object which matches their expectations, working within (mostly) unspoken cultural biases to confirm and strengthen them.[10] While the shared form indicates a shared culture, innovation allows the individual artisan to embody his own vision; it is a measure of how well he has been able to tease out the individual elements and manipulate them to form a new permutation within the tradition. "For art to progress, its unity must be dismantled so that certain of its aspects can be freed for exploration, while others shrink from attention."[11] The creative tension between the traditional object and the craftsman becomes visible in these exceptional objects. This in turn allows us to ask new questions about creativity, innovation, and aesthetics [12]Materials forms, and craftsFolk art comes in many different shapes and sizes. It uses the materials which are at hand in the locality and reproduces familiar shapes and forms. In order to gain an overview of the multitude of different folk art objects, the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage has compiled a page of storied objects that have been part of one of their annual folklife festivals. The list below includes a sampling of different materials, forms, and artisans involved in the production of everyday and folk art objects [13]AlebrijeArmourerBasketryBellmakerBlacksmithBoat carvingDrystone MasonEx votoFarrierFoodwaysFrakturFurnitureGunsmithHarness American RetablosLeather craftingLei or ModelsNakshi art in South carvingRelated below are a wide-ranging assortment of labels for an eclectic group of art works. All of these genres are created outside of the institutional structures of the art world, they are not considered "fine art". There is undoubtedly overlap between these labeled collections, such that an object might be listed under two or more labels.[14] Many of these groupings and individual objects might also resemble "folk art" in one aspect or another, without however meeting the defining characteristics listed above. As our understanding of art expands beyond the confines of the "fine arts", each of these types needs to be included in the discussion AmericanaArt brutFolk artGenre paintingsNaïve artOutlier art[15]Outsider artPrimitive artTramp artTrench artTribal artVanguard artVisionary arta folk art wall in Lincoln Park, on mainstream artFolk artworks, styles and motifs have inspired various artists. For example, Pablo Picasso was inspired by African tribal sculptures and masks, while Natalia Goncharova and others were inspired by traditional Russian popular prints called luboks.[16]In 1951, the artist, writer and curator Barbara Jones organised the exhibition Black Eyes and Lemonade at the Whitechapel Gallery in London as part of the Festival of Britain. This exhibition, along with her publication The Unsophisticated Arts, exhibited folk and mass-produced consumer objects alongside contemporary art in an early instance of the popularisation of pop art in Britain [17]Supporting United Nations recognizes and supports cultural heritage around the world,[18] in particular UNESCO in partnership with the International Organization of Folk Art (IOV). Their declared mission is to “further folk art, customs and culture around the world through the organization of festivals and other cultural events, … with emphasis on dancing, folk music, folk songs and folk art.”[19] By supporting international exchanges of folk art groups as well as the organization of festivals and other cultural events, their goal is promote international understanding and world peace.In the United States, the National Endowment for the Arts works to promote greater understanding and sustainability of cultural heritage across the United States and around the world through research, education, and community engagement. As part of this, they identify and support NEA folk art fellows in quilting, ironwork, woodcarving, pottery, embroidery, basketry, weaving, along with other related traditional arts. The NEA guidelines define as criteria for this award a display of “authenticity excellence, and significance within a particular tradition” for the artists selected. (NEA guidelines) .” In 1966, the NEA’s first year of funding, support for national and regional folk festivals was identified as a priority with the first grant made in 1967 to the National Folk Festival Association. Folklife festivals are now celebrated around the world to encourage and support the education and community engagement of diverse ethnic communities Regional folk artsAfrican folk artChinese folk artMingei (Japanese folk art movement)Minhwa (Korean folk art)Mak Yong (Northern Malay Peninsular folk art dance)Mexican handcrafts and folk artJoget (Wider Malay folk art dance)North artWarli painting (India)Folk arts of Karnataka (India)Folk Art and Ethnological Museum of Macedonia and ThraceFolk Art Museum of Patras, GreeceNative American Art Society of AmericaIOV International Organization of Folk Art, in partnership with UNESCONational Endowment for the ArtsCIOFF: International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Folklore: Woven Together TV Program on textile artsNational Folk Folk Art American Art MuseumFolk Art Center and Guild, Asheville NCMuseum of International Folk ArtAmerican Folk Art MuseumAbby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art MuseumShelburne Museum (Condition: Pre-Owned)

1862-65 Civil War Letter Archive 70+ Letters/Photos 124th Illinois Infantry
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****Civil War Archives of William Hawkins Wickersham, Company C 124th Illinois Infantry. William Hawkins Wickersham, Sr., served in Company C, 124th Illinois Infantry during the Civil War. Mr. Wickersham, for many years a well-known and popular journeyman printer. A collection of 70+ letters from William Hawkins Wickersham to his wife Margeret G. Wickersham "Maggie" while he was in service. The letters date from October 12,1862 to 1865 and contain many interesting elements of daily life in the field. We just scratched the surface on some of the content that we listed by date. There are also about 12 or more letters are from 1870-1885 between relatives of the Wickersham's including Eubanks, Osborn & Rogers & Between William Wickersham and friends from December 9,1862-1885,and a few other fragments of letters without dates or heading too mutilated to read, The regiment was organized at Camp Butler, Illinois, and mustered in on September 10, 1862. It later mustered out at Vicksburg, Mississippi, on July 28, and was discharged in Chicago, Illinois, on August 16, 1865. His first letter home to his Wife Maggie from Jackson Tennessee on October 12, 1862, he tells Maggie " Iam very well and am getting heartier than at Camp Butler. Jim has not written yet, but says he will as soon as he gets time. He is a hard case and I don't like to tent with him at all. Perhaps i will go into another tent soon. Most of the tents have four men in them, but some have only two or three... You can rest assured we have a good floor in out tent. Some of the boys have not. They were afraid to take the boards as the Major had made them carry then back one day. I had a talk with some contrabands yesterday. They are working for Uncle Sam and like it very much. One said his master lived 24 miles from here and was a Union Man,but was afraid to take the oath. When he told his master he was going up with the Yankees the Master said he was a fool and that the Yankees would Kill Him. But he did believe it. It would take 75000 Rebels to take this place and they haven't the 20th part of that number to spare to send up this far. It costs $11 to come down here, twenty-two dollars for the trip here and back to Springfield rather heavy aint it" On October 15,1862 from Jackson, Tennessee he writes his wife " Gen. Williams and John Cook both from Springfield were in Camp yesturday. but i did not get to talk to them. We are circulating a petitioin to have out 1st and 2nd Lieutentants resign. We dont know how it will turn out. They are very incompetant men. October 30th, 1862 Camp Jackson, Tennessee (In the field),"I was so glad to hear from you, but sorry to hear that Franky was sick. Dont let him get too sick before you get the doctor. poor little fellow. I expect him and Cecil will together soon. Kiss Franky again for me and I will kiss you myself before long....... I will now tell you how me and my 3 tent mates are fixed. we started to build a cabin. Built it four logs high (about four feet) and then stretched the tent over it, built a fireplace and chimney and now have a nice, comfortable, cozy little place, and can sit by our fire and laugh at cold weather November 2, 1862, Camp Jackson, Tennessee, We were called in from Pickel-Guard at 8 o'clock under marching orders for Bolivar 25 miles from here. I put a latter in the officve this morning for you and this is the 2nd today. KOn November 8, 1862 at Camp Lagrange Tenn. 3 miles from Mississippi he says" I went down town , bough a pie from a Dutch woman and had to wait in her kitchen til it was made. Her husband is a good Union man , and says he was offered 300 dollars in confederate money for 100 dollars in "green backs" just before we boys got here, but he woudlnt take it, He says that price cant posibly master over 40,000 men if as many, and that if we have 40,000 and he had a hundred thousand that we would whip them. To my knowledge 6000 of ouir men whipped 23,000 rebels right close by here on teh river. The same man says he knows of southern men who have laid in the woods for months and months to avoid the Conscript Law. The rebels heard we were coming here but didnt believe we would dare do it. He knew we were coming but didnt say anything about it. He says that they didnt used to pray for peace but he says they are at it now in all the churches in their prayer. They are getting sick of rebellion. If it wasn't for the of their leaders about the great victories, they (the rebels) achieve they would have no energy or hear to fight at all December 10, 1862 from Oxford Mississippi he writes "this printing operation is not what i alluded to. I write to Ben Richards to see if Capt. Bailhache couldnt get me some position under Gen. Brayman at Bolivar. The General is Bailhaches father in law. I might get something of that kind. Beu Richards it seems had done all the work though. He took it upon himself to write tot eh general and recommended me as competent to fill any position he might have for me..... but to lay that all side i am satisfied to stay where i am at present. March 4th,1863 Lagrange, Tennesse every evening I feel an aching in my left jaw. It is so provoking. I am getting as fat as a buck. We live pretty well, now but not on rich food....Beans we all love, dearly. This evening though we had some doughnuts. We have but one article of queensware on our table and that is out "thundermug" which holds our beans, rice, soup etc.... much nicer than to have one of the black, rooty kettles, which black our fingers in passing".March 15,1863 Lagrange Tennessee, "... I have just been told you can get trasportation from Gov. Yates, and sot you nothing to come and see your sick husband (you can get it that way, and probably without). It can be stated to (mr. Lee) that you deserve the 5 dollars a month from Goot, that you are not drawing it and that your husband is stationed at the Port of Lagrange in the Goot Printing Office. If that is done it wont cost you a cent. Or Capt. Bailache can give you transportation but the Governor can send you all the way through without any outlay. So you can come right along hon. Get transportation from the governor and you can stay down here for several months". May 18, 1863 Lagrange, Tennessee, "Our regiment has been in a fight and only one man was wounded and he was Capt. Potter.... I saw those who were sent out of St. Loius. There were escorted from here to Holly Springs with a "Flag of truce" by a squad of our cavalry. They will find it dry picking down there and wish themselves back in St. Louis before long. They had been rich but were not allowed to take but $200 each with them, the balance of their property was confiscated. They had been detected corresponding with the Rebels. Served 'em right."June 4th 1863 Lagrange Tennessee, " Mit said something about Joe joining cousin buds 10th Cavalry or going to Ohio wher he could get one or two thousand dollars for going as a substitute.... Mit said for you to write Joe and it might be that you could influence him to do it....... I told my Lieut. again the other day that i wanted to go to my regiment and he flatty told me no i couldn't and that i had to stay for three years or during the war. He won't let me go unless he can get as good a printer as me and that hell not be able to do in these parts.June 11,1863 Lagrange Tennessee, " at this Post there has been an entire change of the Commanders and troops. Major General Oglesby is here. So is Acting Brigadier General James M. True, of the 62nd Ills. Infantry. It was thought for a while that our office would be ordered away when Smith left, but it was not, and i guess we will stay now. I do not care much. I would about as leave be with my Regiment. I would there stand some chance of promotion, but dont in this "chebang". June 21st, 1863 Lagrange Tennessee,"... they cleaned everything out effectually and what they could not take away they gave to some of the Brethern. Gowtird (thats the way they pronounce it in the Captains office) gave me that pretty straw hat and i use it for a pis-pot. That was all he gave me. He could have got all my extra pay just as well as not. but he was mad because i was the only one out of the seven chosen to stay. He could hardly shoke hands and wish me success. He told Harriet and Henry a private couldn't draw rations for them and they would soon be on the point of starvation and told them to go to the Correl and not to cook for me". July 1st, 1863 Lagrange Tennessee, " Vicksburg is as good as doomed, and the invasion of Pennsylvania will be a good incentive to make the folks in that region enlist under Uncle Samuel. They can have a few horses, etc. if it will be the means of raising us 50,000 troops....Let them come on Northern soil. The quicker the better for us". July 5,1863 lagrange Tennessee, " General Oglesby has left here and Col. True is in command. My friend Cd. Wiley will still be the A.A.A. General and will be the sub-commander so you see i will all right..... Lees remark that i was only a temporary concern has proven to be a lie thus far. I guess he and the rest of them only hoped so.... I would not be surprised if they would try in teh regiment or division to have me ordered back. Let them.....August 25, 1863 Memphis Tennessee, "Here Iam in Memphis... I have been working in an office here picking out some new type to take out to my office. I have b een getting some work from Memphis from the Commissary of Masters at G H Headquarters, and they talk like they would have me move the office down here and set up a big concern to do all the printing for all the towns between here and """""", but I dont know whether they will or not. I went to see E. W. Wickershaw in the Post Office here. He says the big P.O. building is owned by a Wickershaw. I could get into the Post Office here by the proper amount of care in that particular, but i prefer the printing".March 24,1864 Vicksburg, Mississippi, " I wrote you a letter just after coming from Black River telling you that Jim was somewhere in the city. but i cant find him. I have been uptown three or four times on purpose to see him but he as so far off the last time i went and it was so late in the evening that i did not get to see him. He commands a squad of what are called "skulkers"....I wanted to see him particularly in reference to the Co. Records I am about to print. Whether he wanted a copy and whether he wanted his promotion ... in it or not........ Nearly all the 17th Army Corps will soon be off to some others point, leaving only the 1st Division. If our regiment goes it will not affect one in my present for it so long as any of the Corps remain here". April 21, 1864 from Post Printing Office Vicksburg, Mississippi, " I told you in my last that I was a detailed in a printing office. I am working for a citizen who owns the office. He is allowed to have one soldier printer and for that reason he has to do Head 2, work free. I will get $12 a month extra from the Post fund". May 13, 1864 from Vickburg, Mississippi, " The Steamboat "Mississippi" arrived today and i purchased a late paper.... The Rebels hereway look chopfallen. The Red River affair was a great disaster to me, but no failure elsewhere can compensate the Rebs for their defeat in Virginia if the news we have with northern papers of the 11th be true. Did you see the piece from the Richmond """" stating this is the last year of the war whichever way it ends?".July 12, 1864 from Vicksburg, Mississippi, " I said in my last that our Regi had gone out towards Jackson, Miss. Well they have come back to the city again. There were five or six other Regiments with it. All the rest were badly cut up by the Rebels in superior numbers attacking them while they were on the way back. Our Regiment was extremely lucky. The 16th """" lost about 85 killed and wounded. and the 46th over a hundred. The 124th had one man shot. One of our company Bill """"" whose brother was killed during the seige had his canteen bursted and didnt get hurt by the shell at all. Capt. Field had a narrow escape. All the Regiments went out again but the 8th and ours, and they will probably remain a while". July 31,1864 from Vicksburg, Mississippi, " In consequence of each Trade Regulations and hostile Batheries along the river, boats do not come down as often as usual. Now if we have a boat once a week we feel lucky. Since the """ was sunk, i have been informed several others have been stuck on sand bars and the Olive Branch sunk. Navigation at the present taking all things into consideration is extremely hazardous". August 27 1864, from Vicksburg , Mississippi, " There is some talk of this place being attacked soon. But we are ampily prepared for them. They will not get out as they did at Memphis.... End of letter states, "Since writing the above i have been detailed in the "District Head Quarters Printing Office and there are only two of us and we have two large rooms and an outer kitchen in a nice brick house.... I stand pretty high at the head quarters and that notice of me in the paper is partly the cause of it. I have been placed in charge of it hon, and can do as i please. (Blue paper card mentions The District head quarters printing office).October 4, 1864 at headquarters District Printing Office Vicksburg, Mississippi, " As i marked in my last, i want you to use all your influence in the selection of the OLD ABE as out Next President. You will then be some help towards subduing our enemies. end of letter says " so aunt says you wont come down here. I know the reason it is because Lincoln will be elected and the Rebels will quit fighting and i can go home to you, thats it". March 25, 1865 at Headquarters Department of Mississippi Vicksburg," I received a paper i suppose Mit sent me containing the notice (such a good notice too), of dear little Franks funeral William Wickersham to his father Milton F. Wickersham on December 9, 1862, "Prisoners continue to arrive every day and a good many are taking the oath. the kind i sent in Maggies letter which your humble servant printed for the poor deluded fellows. Our office is getting in working trim and we turn out more work ever day.... Yesterday Grants portable printing office arrived in a state of "py" and one of the boys wanted to drive us and had already received a specimen of our work, was not going to see us "ousted" in that manner notwithstanding the boys claimed authority from Grant to take possession of the establishment over the way".Martha Osborn to her half-sister Margaret G. Wickersham on March 23, 1864, "I think you ought to stay with Sue if she wants you to if you can be any help to her. I suppose that Hawkins will draw his pay pretty soon, but you are so impatient you think you cant have all of your wants and i dont think you ought to complain so much and write all your little trouble to Hawkins for he has trouble enough of his own you ought to help him to hear his in the place adding your to his he knows how hard it is for you to live the way ou do with you continually reminding him of it you ought to try and do the best you can and write as cheerful letters to him as you can he will think a good deal more of you for your patience think how he must feel when he gets a letter from you full of your troubles when perhaps he has been on a long march and is tired and hungry and wants something to cheer him".Stuber a friend in service to William H. Wickersham on January 29, 1865, "Since you left us, we was sometimes pressed very hard with work and i could not get a half a day for my own private business. Applications for my relief has been made to the General by the Command Officer.... I have made up my mind to serve my time out in a printing office. Abe and I were both very much pleased with your kind offer but we could not come off from here just now. I am compelled to have another man detailed in our office for about ten days, to help me to work out about 8 or 10 pages of Court Martial. after this we can spare him again. The mans name is James Thomas, private Company B... if you should be able to send him a detail from Memphis he would state off immediately". Margaret G. Wickersham to her husband William H. Wickersham on April 25,1865, " You know what is good for me and i know you will make it all up when you come. which i hope will not be long, by the time you get this letter April will be gone and the next month you will be home. You had better wait until the last of the month and then get a forty days furlough. Dont be to Buckward to tell them that you have not been home in three years. Send me the Vicksburg paper hone i dont get much news here but i suppose from what i have heard that many are on the way from Washington with Lincolns body, now i would like to be in Springfield to the burring but i cant be in two places at once.... I read out the fight in Spanish Fort and the names of the killed and wounded,and was glad to see that there was none of Company C. but one and his name was Bruce if i am not mistaken Margaret Wickersham to William H Wickersham May 18, 1865, "I hope the next letter will when you will start home, oh hon i dont believe you try hard enough or you certainly could get a furlough you are entitled to one......Your old friends are very anxious to see you and seem disappointed when i tell them that i dont know when you will be home. I cant help but feel uneasy about the long trip you have to take on the steamboats, but you are in gods hands. and i pray for your safe arrival daily...... O i thought i never could feel good again after Franks death but all things are possible with god and with his help i now enjoy good health and peace of mind".William H Wickersham to his wife Margaret Wickersham during his service (unknown date)," I cant get a furlough no way i can fix it. The Colonels cant either. I dont really know where to direct this letter, but i will send it to Pa and he will forward it to you. We have got sick and tired of looking for teh Paymaster. He is reported every day that he is near. I am almost afraid to risk sending money through the uncertain channel we have now. It is particularly unsafe to send it as soon as we are paid and to any Mrs. I will direct it to Maggie Wickersham to drive off suspicion Letter to unknown on written on unknown date," The news of President Lincolns assassination struck the hearts of every loyal person in Memphis like a Thunderbolt in my life has anything affected me so deeply and in common with every soldier and citizen."Letter to unknown unknown date from William Hawkins," I am very glad to be able to get rid of the cold rainy weather to camp life, as it has happened that our boys have been in no fight, but i should Lote it they were in a fight and me safe in the office.....Im for the "inoloted military posts" by that about stant that we are not ready for a fight for we have our guns all ready for Rebel Raids..... I would like to get about a months furlough , but it cant be "did:. There is no chance of rising any higher in this branch of the service". letter to unknown unknown date," I hear that the Banks Expedition has turned up at Newborn, North Carolina. Also that Burside had to fall back from the Rappahannock and that Bragg had been fighting our boys at Jackons Tennessee.The troops are passing through here as i write... The citizens here never have believed that we had so many soldiers". William Hawkins Wickersham was born March 7, 1833 in Versailles, Woodford County Kentucky. Married Margaret Green Wickersham (Eubank) on January 30,1861 in Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois and had 9 Children William Passed in his residence at East Adams Street in Springfield, Sangamon County Illinois after a week long illness (paralysis of the stomach)... ............See Images**** (Condition: Pre-Owned)

CDV ALBUM CONTAINING 32 CIVIL WAR SOLDIER PHOTOS, MICHIGAN 10TH INFANTRY
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CDV ALBUM CONTAINING 32 CIVIL WAR SOLDIER PHOTOS, MICHIGAN 10TH INFANTRY. Nearly all of the soldiers depicted are from the 10th Michigan Infantry and album comes with a copy of Vol. 10, Record of Service of Michigan Volunteers in the Civil War 1861-1865. Many of the soldiers have been checked off where their entries appear. The soldiers are identified in writing at the bottom of most album pages and most of the notations are done in the same hand. These are as follows: 1) Major General Rosecrans 2) Brigadier General James D. Morgan 3) Colonel Charles M. Lum "Lum Gaurds" 4) Lieutenant Colonel Christopher J. Dickerson 5) Captain Henry S. Burnett, Company A (This appears to be an autographed photo) 6) Captain Bradford Cook 7) First Lieutenant DeWitt C. Welling 8) Captain James Stewart 9) Second Lieutenant Maxwell G. Cooky 10)--loose picture--First Sergeant Owen C. Corbett, Company E 11) Lieutenant George A. Allen, Company C 12) Sergeant William C. Clark, Company H 13) Corporal Robert B. Miner 14) Surgeon David W. Vandenberg (Revenue Stamp) 15) Lieutenant Edwin F. Holmes (Revenue Stamp) 16) Captain Alva A. Collins (Revenue Stamp) 17) Lieutenant Fletcher W. Hewes, Company D 18) Commissary Sergeant John G. Allport (Orderly for Colonel Lum 10/53-8/64) 19) Captain Rudolph Papst (Revenue Stamp, Dated Sept. 1864) 20) Surgeon Jonathan S. Rouse (Revenue Stamp) 21) Captain Henry Wideman (Revenue Stamp, Dated 1865) 22) Captain James Dwight 23) Lieutenant Warren G. Nelson 24) Second Lieutenant Charles P. Rice (Dated 1866) 25) Sergeant Marcus P. Andrews 26) Captain J. Deloss Jewell, Company D 27)--loose picture Captain Eslie R. Redfield 28) Second Lieutenant William B. Pratt 29) Private Silas Crawford, Company B 30) Stanley G. Smith, Company E 31) Captain Samuel S. Tower, Company A 32) First Lieutenant George A. Aplin, Company I There is a loose page from a bible that was in the RECORD BOOK, and this page contains information describing J.D. Jewell (see #26 on list) as Grandpa with other references to surname of Selfe, which is relevant to some of the other militaria items recently listed on my store. I suspect that this was Jewell's personal album of photos of fellow Civil War veterans. This is an unusual opportunity to acquire a significant bit of 10th Michigan Infantry history as it was found. In several days I will be making a separate post of documents relating to enlistment, commissions, and discharge of Delois Jewell, and many of these documents are signed by Burnett and Lum. Starting bid for that collection has not been decided yet as more research is needed, but our current estimation is that it should start at around $6k...however, more research will be done this weekend with an expected posting time of Monday evening...this has been included here as this lends credence to the suspicion that this album and the ribbons were personal to Jewell. Serious students of the 10th Michigan Infantry will want to atleast view the documents once posted. An additional post that is even more spectacular than the documents described above is a letter and map Deloss Jewell sent home to his wife describing the battle at Corinth, Mississippi. If anybody should have any doubts that the photo album in this posting did not belong to Jewell, those doubts should be erased by the presentation of this letter and the military document described above and also posted elsewhere. (Condition: Pre-Owned)

Civil War CDV Album Officers Vicksburg 1st Mississippi Cavalry African Descent
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Confederate Naval Cutlass Sword Cook & Brother
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Civil War Archive. Mass. 36th. Regt. Liberty W. Foskett.
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Civil War Archive. Mass. 36th. Regt. Liberty W. Foskett. Here is an interesting archive of Civil War letters. Nineteen of these letters were written from Liberty W. Foskett to his sister Abbie Clement of So. Royalston, Mass. There are accounts of battles and fights and of aspects and challenges of daily living. Negro troops are mentioned during the description of the Battle Of The Crater. At a couple of different times the Union and Rebel troops get together peaceably between the lines in between bouts of fighting. There is a letter, written in pencil, which contains a list of the dead and wounded soldiers from Foskett’s company and I think that this list, might be the ending part of another of the letters which does not seem to have an ending. It is hard to know. All of the letters are written in ink. Transcribing the letters was a challenge and so I expect that as well as the spelling mistakes inherent in the letters there may be more than a few spelling mistakes more recently introduced as part of the transcription. There are eighteen envelopes present and not matched up with the letters mostly with stamps removed. In addition to the letters from Liberty W. Foskett to his sister there is a letter from Charles F. Byam to Abbie Clement regarding the death of Byam’s wife Lizzie, and there is a letter from Wellington Foskett to his brother Liberty W. Foskett regarding Wellington’s time in the hospital nbsp;Letter # 1 Camp Forbs Plesant Valey MD. October 17, Dear Sister, I seat my self this afternoon to answer your long delayed letter which came to hand last weak I am happy to say that to day finds me and the rest of the boys enjoying the best of health and I hope this will find you and the rest of your family enjoying the same blessing. I can say that I had been enjoying the best of health ever since I came out here I hav not seen but one day but what I have felt well and harty and that was the first days sail from Boston we had not got more than 20 miles out of Boston when I was taken sea sick and remained so all day it was the worst feeling that I ever had. Will & Henry was not sick any of the way Charles was a little sick in the forenoon but soon got over it I hav had a very pleasant time so far although we hav had a good may hard marches I would give you a full account of our marches but I suspose you have had a full account of them up to the present time I will give you an account of a trip we had a weak a go today. we ware called out at 5 oclock in the afternoon for dress parade we had just got on a line when we ware ordered to put on our over coats and equipments and be ready to march it took us about 10 minutes to get ready and be on a line. we ware also ordered to take one days ration of hard bread and salt ham the whole of our Brigade was then started towards Harpers Ferry we all expected we was a going into a fight and that was the calculation but we hapned to miss it. I tell you Abbie there was a good many sick ones about that time. I will now go on with my description of out trip we ware marched about a mile to the Rail Road Station and there got on to the cars it took them until 8 oclock to get readdy to start we ware then started of and rode till about 11 at knight and then ware ordered to get of and formed a line. we found that we ware in the city of Frederick MD about 20 miles from whare we got on the cars we ware all perty as we had to ride in open cars. We ware marched on to the Main St in the City and thare stoped for the knight it was a perty hard knight for us as we did not have our blankets with us and our bed was the soft side of the pavements when we layed down but we had to keep trotting up and down the street to keep worm we stoped there until 5 oclock in the morning. And ware then marched about half a mile out of the city and there got our breakfast and stoped there until 10 and then ware marched threw the city to the other side and there stoped till about 4 in the afternoon and then ware marched to the depot and got on to the cars again we got started out about 7 towards our own camp in Plesant Valey we went as far as Point of Rocks and there ware ordered to get of the cars again we marched a few road from the depot and halted for the knight. It looked very likely to rain when we got there and so we went into a corn field and there got some stalks and made us a tempery shelter for the knight it soon began to rain hard and we found that our chanties afforded poor shelter for us as the rain drove right threw them we stayed there until we got perty wet and then went in search of a better shelter some went one way and some an other some of the boys drove the ??? out of there chest and took Persion we stoped around Point of Rocks until Wednesday and then ware marched bck to our old camp Henry & Charles did not go Henry was a little sick and a little blue too. And the teams was all left behind so that Charles did not hav to go I think I will close now I think you will get tired of reading what I hav already ritten pleas give my love to your family and take a large share your self Pleas rite often and rite long letters and I will do the same pleas Except this from your Brother. As I take pride in calling myself so Liberty W Foskett PS I had forgotten that Lizzie was with you pleas give my love to hir also. LWF Letter # 2 Camp Forbs near Warington, VA Nov. 12 Dear Sister, I seat myself this morning to answer your letter which I was very thankful to receive, today finds me enjoying the best of health and I hope this will find you all enjoying the same blessing. Henry and Charles are well also Wellington is in the hospital at Knoxville MD. He has been there about two weaks he got run down with the Direah and it will take him some time to get all right again. Now Abbie don’t you say a word about W. being in the hospital so that it will get to the friends in Winchendon Since I wrote you last we have been on the move most of the. We started from Plesant Valley two weaks ago and wed have been on the march about every day since then. Some days we have marched 20 miles and 15 and 12 just as they took a notion the first days march from Plesant Valley was the hardest for us as it rained all day and knight. We started about 6 o’clock in the morning from Plesant Valley and marched down the river to Berlin and here we stoped about an ower in the rain waiting for the troops in front of us to cross the river we crossed on a pontoon bridge made of boats we then marched about three miles and then turned into a ry field to stop for the knight. About this time we ware a hard looking set I can tell you we were wett threw to our hides and all covered with mud from our hed to foot we pitched our tents at the lower side of the Ry field and then tried to build a fire we made out after trying some time but it did not do much good as the Rain would wet us faster than the fire could dry us. We past the knight the best we could some the time we ware at the fire and some time in our tents our tents served a poor purpose as the rain would drive right threw the tents. But I came out of it all right and did not get any cold but most of them got a bad cold. Since then we have past threw Lovitsoil, Marshford, Hampton, Goose Creek, Chirch, Philmont, Nemon, Rector Town, Salem, Orleans. And are now camped on a branch of the Rapanhanook River. We had quite a snow storm here last Friday it came so that it covered the ground all over. Since we got into Virginia we have been into foriging some we don’t have a very good chance only when we are on pickit guard we were out last week on pickit and I will tell you what we got there was chickens mutton honey and walnuts and then we went into a mans cow yard and got what milk we could that was not a great deal as the cows had been milked but a short time before we got there. This seams like rather tuff work don’t it abbie. But you would not blame us if you knew the disposition of the people out here. They come out and say that they hope that all of the Union Soldiers will get killed that are out here. You wanted to know how we lived out here and I can tell you as a genral thing we have enuff to eat although we are pretty short just now our principle living is salt pork and ham and hard bread fresh beef beans once and a while we have rice and sometimes a soup this is what we get as a general thing only when we are on a march then we hav to live a little shorter for drink we have coffee but I do not drink any of it for I think that it is the worst thing that a man can drink out here. In regards to the quality of our pervisherns it is as a general thing pretty good I have seen the meat and the bread when it was pretty well covered with buggs but we would knock them of and call it pretty good that is when we ware pretty hungry but this don’t happen very often I can get along tip top with the living that we have. Our tents are called the shelter tents they are small one desined for two in a tent but we crowd in three and four so as to lay warm we have two blankets a woolin one and a rubbir one the rubbir one we lay on the ground and the woolen one over us the shape of our tents is like this I am a tip top drawer aint I abbie Now I dont want that you should say a thing about what I have ritten so that it will get to mother. You wanted that I should write just as it was so I thought I would I hav not ime to write any more this time. Pleas give my love to all of your family and PS pleas write often and I will do the same I am greatly obliged to you for the stamps and paper you sent me. Pleas Except this from your brother and friend L.M. Foskett Letter #3 Camp Forbes Newport News. Mar.22th Dear Sister I seat my self this morning to answer your letter which I received last weak. I had begun to think that you had given up the idea of writing to me again but I was happy to be disappointed I will now say that today finds me enjoying the best of health and I hope this will find you and your family enjoying the same great blessing we hav had one of the greatest storms here that we hav had here since we came out here it commenced snowing day before yesterday and it has kept it up till this morning there is now a foot of snow on the level and it looks a good deal like winter we hav had very changeable weather for the last two weaks one day it would be warm enuff to rost a man the next day it would be uncomfortable with your overcoat on we are situated now on the plesantest campground that we have been on since we left Worcester are camp is situated on the bank of the James River and about one mile from the landing at Newport News we are living pretty well now better than we have since we left Plesant Valley we have soft bread all of the time with fresh meat & potatoes Occasionally and beans also and we can get all of the oysters we want as there is any quantity of them in the James River just front of our camp but we are under marching orders now and hav been for two days we shall probably go today or to morow but where we are agoing I do not know some think we are going to (Tenn) but I hardly think we shall but it is hard telling where we should go as there is always Thowsand Stories afloat when we are on the move. Charles was in my tent last knight he was well he had just received a box from home and brot me up a plate full of the cakes & donuts & cheese they ware very nice. Aldiss & Samuel & Henry are well Henry is cooking with Mr Bowkir he likes that a great deal better than he does being in the ranks you know there is no danger of getting shot there. I think I will have to draw my letter to a close as it is most time for the mail to go out. pleas giv my love to Lizzie B and the rest of your family & take a share your self pleas write often and I will do the same Pleas Except this from your brother & friend Liberty W. Foskett Newport News (Va) Mar 22th Letter #4 Camp Dick Robberson near Branchville KY. April 19th 1963 Dear Sister Being of from duty to day I think I will improve a few moments in writing to you. I am happy to say that to day finds me enjoying the best of health and I hope this may find you and your family enjoying the same great blessings. I was happy to receive a letter from you and to hear that you ware all well. Since I wrote you last we have been on the move most of the time. We have traveled by railroad & steamboat & foot about twelve hundred & fifty miles since we left since we left Newport News Va. Most of the way I enjoyed it first rate only I got pretty tired as we rode night and day for a weak. our accomerdations on the cars was not so good as they ware on boat we rode in box cars with seats in them we went from Newport News to Baltimore in a steamer & there took the cars and went threw Western Va. To Parkersburg Va. Here we took the steamer (Boston) on the Ohio River and went then to Cincinnati Ohio. This trip down the Ohio River was the pleasantest part of our journey. we stoped on the boat at Cincinnati over night and the next morning we steamed acrost the River to the Key Side here we got of from the boat and marched to the depot this being in Covington Ky. Every thing went on nicely till we got here and here we had a Smashup. We ware marched into a frate depot to wait for the cars and in this depot was about one hundred barrels of Whiskey the boys was not long in finding it out and waited in and got there name up in a short time but it was stoped as soon as the officers found it out. It looked as if we had had a battle to see them lay about the depot a good many of them about the same as dead there was several of Co D that ware down maney that I was surprised to see to. We stoped here till most dark and then took the cars for Lexington we arived the next morning at sunrise here we had a very pleasant camping ground I think the pleasantess one we hav ever been one since we left Worcester. Here we stopped one weak and then was ordered back to Cincinnati to keep everything quiet during the election in the city we went down one day and back the next we did not have anything to do as everything went on sivilly during the election we ware ordered to march the next day after getting back to Lexington the first march we went 16 miles to Nicholasville here we halted for the night the next morning at 8 oclock we started again and went 14 miles to Camp Dick Robberson where we are now encamped. Those 2 days march used up the Boys the worst I ever saw them. It was very worm & the roads ware hard and our feet ware very baddley blistered before we got thru it was almost impossible for us to walk but after resting a day or two we came out all right we hav a very pleasant camp ground here. And I think we shall stop here for a while we are living very well now. better than we did on our journey you wished to know if we ware expecting a fight that is a hard question to answer as we are liable to called into battle most any time there is not a very large force of Rebels this side of Cumberland Gap. There is a good many ?????? in this part of the country Our pickets took in rebel prisoners the other day a few miles from our camp. Letter # 5 July 29, 1863 Camp at Milldale, Miss. July 29th. Dear Sister, Being at leisure this morning I ???? myself to write a few lines to let you know that I am still in the land of the living this morning finds me enjoying the best of health and I hope this may find you and the rest of your family enjoying the same Great blessing. We hav had the hardest time since we came into Miss. That we have ever sean. from the time that we got into Miss till Vicksburg we ware to work fortfyed and doing Picket duty at Milldale about 8 miles in the rear of Vicksburg as soon as Vicksburg was taken we ware sent of after Johnston who was retreating toward the big black River we expected to have overtaken him at the River but all we found there was a few Cavalry who left as soon as they saw us a coming so we had to follow him with in a few miles of the Jackson Miss – when we were with in about 4 miles of Jackson our skirmishers ware thrown out and they commenced skirmishing the rest of our brigade following them up on a line of battle. We drove the Rebs till we got with in about one mile of the city when they made a stand and we held them there without trying to advance. In the night we contrived to throw up brest works so we ware somewhat protected from there bullets. I was in the Pitts 24 owers and on Reserve 24 owers while we were in the Rifle Pitts I fired 86 Rounds of Cartridges during the 24 owers. There was none of our Co. killed or wounded. Co. F of our Regt. Lost two killed X 7 wounded when we ware in the Pitts the Rebs sent in a flag of truce and we were ordered not to fire for one ower.the Firing stopped on both Sides and we got out of our Pitts and commenced talking with the Rebs – we told them to come over and get some Coffee and they answered us by telling us to come over and get some Whiskey. Then they wanted we should come over and see them we told them we would come halfway So we started and went about half way to there works and they met us there we had quite a talk with them. They seamed to be anxious to have this war closed up. So they could go home. We talked with them till about 10 minutes before the time was out when one of the Reb Captains took out his watch and said they must go back they wished us good luck and we parted each for our brest works and we ware soon firing at each other the Same as before. We stoped at Jackson till the Rebs left and then we were sent out about 10 miles towards the ???? River to destroy a portion of the Miss. Central RR here we tore up the track and burnt the sleepers we also burnt the Depot and several box cars and then started back towards our old camp at Milldale which we arrived at the 23rd. while we were gone we were on half Rations and they were very poor at that. When we ware on our way back to Milldale we had a very hard march some days we went 20 miles and the time we got into Camp the Boys ware all wore out. I stood it first rate and am all right today. We are expecting to go back to Reg. In a few days and the sooner the better for I have just got sick of Miss. There is one thing that is rather bad for us just now that is the Small Pox has got into our Regt. There is 16 sick with it now they have been ???? to Vicksburg. Probably there will be more that will hav it. we are having quite a fine lot of fruit here now Peaches are just getting ripe and there is any quantity of Figs here which are very nice. I shall hav to draw my letter to a close s I hav not time to write any more If I could see you I could tell you mare that I can write. This makes two letters that I have written since I have heard from you. Soon pleas give my best respects Sylvendor and the Children and except this from your affectionate brother. Liberty W. Foskett Milldale Miss July 29th. 1863 Letter #6 Camp at Crab Orchard. KY. September 7, Dear Sister I received your letter a few weaks ago and had aught to hav answerd it before but we hav been moving about so much that I hav not had time to do anything. this morning finds me enjoying good health and I hope this may find you & your family enjoying the same blessing. We are having a good deal of duty to do just now we hav picket & camp guard duty to do and also three howers drilling to do a day but I think it is better for us then it is to lay in our tents and do nothing. there is a great many of our Company sick in the Hospital there is three of our company that has died since we left Mississippi the first one was Syrus Buffram the captains brother he diesdon the boat between Cairo Ill. & Cincinnati O. after we got into camp at or nere Hickinans Bridge Eugean King was taken sick and lived but a few days. I watched with him one knight he was a very sick boy and was out of his head most of the time. He was a very fine fellow and we miss him very much but that is the way we all got to go. Yesterday we had word that an other of our Co. was dead his name was William Washburn of Athol Charles Fisher of Templeton is very sick and they do not think he will live. I tell you Abbie the Mississippi Campain was a Tuff trip for the 36th I hope we shall never see anything like it again but it is hard telling. When we first came on to this ground we had in our Co. able for duty was 18 men and all we hav now is 25 the rest are not able to do duty but I hav been tuff as a beare ever since I came out here but I am not going to brag of my health for I may be taken sick at any time we are now under marching orders and expect to start sometime this weak for they say Tenn. But I do not know. Three of our Co. started home of there furlows the 2nd and I suspose they will get home long before this letter reaches you chalrees was one of them he was very hard up and it don’t seam as though he could stand it to go so far but the excitement may keep him up I hope it will. It was very sad news for Charles as it was for me to here of the Death of Lizzie although it was not all together unexpected as I new how she was when little Charlie was a babe and knowing she did but just live then I had but little hopes of hir ever getting well. But it is hard to live to little motherless & almost fartherless children amongst strangers as you might say but I hope they will have a good place if there is one. Well Abbie it is getting to be most time for the mail to go out so I must clos pleas give my love to Sylvender & the children and take a share your self pleas write often and long letters and Except this from your affectionate Brother Liberty W. Foskett. Crab Orchard KY September 7, 1863 Letter # 7 October 19, 1863 Camp, at, Knoxville. East. Tenn. Oct. 19th. Dear Sister Abbie, Yours of Oct. 2nd. I Received yesterday and was very happy to hear from you and also to here that you was will and I am happy to say that to Day finds me enjoying the best of health, and I hope this may find you enjoying the Same blessing. You Spok in your letter about not Receiving as many letters from me as you have ritten. I have always been very Punctual in answering your letters and always shall it must be that they are delayed on the Road. Since I wrote you last we have been a long Distance and over a Ruff country we left Crab Orchard Sept 10th. And arrived at Knoxville on the 27th. We crossed threw the Cumberland Gap and over the Clinch Mountain which was the Rufest place that I ever saw we also had two rivers to ford the Holston and the Clinch they ware about half a mile acrost, but I came out of it all right. We hav also been in a fight sinced I wrote you last, I will give you an account of it which may not be uninteresting to you. We left Knoxville the 3rd of Oct. with 15 days rations and in light marching order we took the cars For Bulls Gap some 65 miles from here we arrived there about dark and camped nere the depot for the night the next morning we marched out about ?? miles to Guard a bridge here we stoped 6 days till the rest of our Div. came up with us on the 10th. We started out again and marched perhaps 4 miles when we ware halted in a corn field the advance of our Columns having come up with the Rebs Pickets they had a slight skirmish with them and they fell back under the cover of there Battries which were just beyond the Village of Blue Springs. Here 5,000 of our mounted infantry engaged them they were engaged till the middle of the afternoon without driving the Rebs from their position in the woods. Gen Burnside getting out of patience he made this remark, I did not want to put in my 9th Corps but I shall have to before we can drive them out our Div. was then ordered to the front we marched up with in a few rods of our line of Battle as soon as our Skirmishers ware sent out and our line was formed we began to advance we had not gone but a short distance before we ware met by Shot and Shells from the Rebs line we kept as low as possible and most of the shot past over our heads which rattled amongst the trees like Hale Stones we kept on advancing till we came pretty close to them when they fell back behind a rale fence and here calculated to hold us but they could not come in as soon as we came in sight of them our Gen gave the order to give it to them Boys and that was enuff ther came one of those Hideous Yells throughout the whole Div and then we started for them they stood till we got almost on to them when they broke and ran in confusion leaving there wounded on the field we followed on after them till we came out in to an open field we chased them over a small hill but had not gone but a few Rods before we saw that we were in Plane sight of there Battries before we had time to fall back over the top of the hill they opened on us but we saw the Smoke from the mouth of the Canon soon enuff to fall flat on to the ground and the Shell past just over our heads by then we had orders to fall back over the top of the hill which we did as soon as we got over the top of the hill we lay down in a line of ??? and lay there all night it was when we made this charge over the hill that our Col. Was wounded they kept on shelling us till about dark when the firing Seaced on both sides it was while we lay on the Side Hill that George Wright of our Co. was wounded he lay beside me so near that we tuched together the ball just passed my head and struck him in the arm the next morning when we awok we expected to hav an other fight but they had fled during the night we ware imeadiatly started on after them and made a forced march of 20 miles but we could not catch them but they had to leave some of there horses beside the road we stopped there one day and then started back for Knoxville we marched into Bulls Gap and there to the Cars and arrived in Knoxville the 15 safe and sound the next day after the fight I was detailed at Brig HeadQuarters to take charge of the Provost Guard I hav 7 men with me now perhaps you would like to know what I hav to do when we are on marches I have to see to the putting up and taking down of the headquarter tents and loading the wagons with the Headquarter Bagage And after they are loaded to go with them and guard them when we are in camp I do not have much to do only to look after things when we are about the headquarters we also have charge of all the prisoners that may be brot here we have one now. Well Abbie I hav ritten this in an awfull hurry and I guess you will think so by the looks of it since I hav been writing we hav got orders to be ready to march tomorow morning but where we are a going is more than I can tell you I think though towards Chatanooga I will have to say that I do not have any guard duty to do and when we are on march I do not have any load to carry I shall now hav to close as I hav got to see to drawing our rations. Pleas giv my love to all of your family and take as I have your self write often and I will do the same. pleas except this from your affectionate brother Liberty W. Foskett Knoxville East Tenn. Letter # 8 Camp nere Strawberry Planes, East Tenn Jan 19th 1864 Dear Sister Abbie, You may think strange of my not writing you before this late day but when you know the Sircumstances I don’t think that you will blame me ever since I received you letter we have been on the move or in a fight or expecting to be. We were driven out of our winter quarters at Lenoire by the Rebel Gen. Longstreet with a large force of Rebs we retreated back towards Knoxville but they came on to us so close that our Div. had to engage them at Cambells Station some 20 miles from Knoxville here we lost some men there was two out of our co that ware wouynded Livesay Hale and George Plumer both from Winchendon Plumer was left on th3e field and died soon after we left our forces kept falling back till we arrived at Knoxville here we made a stand and held the Rebs at bay we were 17 days penned up at Knoxville the Rebs made one effort to storm our fort but were repulsed with great slaughter there dead were scattered from there lines to the fort ded and wounded all together I believe that that was the worst looking sight that I have seen since I came into the army. As soon as our reinforcements came up from Chattanooga they left toward VA lines. We started after them the next day and went up as far as Rutlege some 40 miles from Knoxville here we stoped one night and then fell back to Blanes Cross Roads where we hav been ever since till day before yeterdazy we ???? on to this ground some 8 miles from the Cross Roads. We have been in a poor condition ever since we left Knoxville we hav neither had clothes nor rations I will tell you what rations we have had half rations of bvread most of the time ¼ rations of sugar and coffee part of the time full rations ????? beef till within a month we have had some days ¼ rations flour and some days 1/3 without any sugar or coffee well Abbie you know about what kind of bread the poorest kind of flour would make with cold water and salt and that is all that we hav to mix with. I would just like to have you see some of the bread I tell you it makes my mouth water to think of it. We have been very poorly on it for clothing but I believe there is some at the Regts for us I hope so any way. I tell you Abbie this is little the worst State that I have been in for grub and clothing. But then I am good for it that is so every time. I am thinking of the good times a coming in about a year and a half if I liv to see it. Most all of the Old Regt in our Corps has reenlisted for three years and hav gone home on a 30 days furlow. If they had given the 36th a chance to reenlist I think most of them would have gone in I think that I should for one but if they keep me till my time is most out I am afraid that I can not see it although I am not so sick of the war as a good many are. But I am sick enuff. We got orders to be ready to march this morning at 7 o’clock but order was countermanded at day light where we ware going I do not know I think though to the front as our forces had a fight up there yesterday and got a little worsted so there I suppose that you know we have lost our Noble Commander Gen. Burnside having gone into some other department but I am in hopes that he will take his old 9th Corps with him wherever he may go. All of the Marshville boys that are with the Regt are well Samuel Hale came up to the Regt. About two weeks ago he left us when we came back to Ky from Miss Webster Chase I believe is on his way to the Regt. Aldin is well. Henry is cooking for the Co. and is tuff as a bare. Cooking is a much healthier place for a man than it is in the ranks you know. Well I have written all that I can think of that will interest you this time. Give my respects to Sylvender and giv the children all a kiss for me. Write often and all of the news and Except this from your Affectionate Brother Liberty W. Foskett Strawberry Planes East Tenn Jan 19th. 1864 Letter # 9 Camp at Annapolis, MD, April 9th. /64 Having given up all hopes of ever hearing from you again I thought that I would write you once more. I hav ritten two letters to you since I have received any from you. The last letter I received from you was November 11th but I am in hopes that there is some on the way for me. I am going to think till I get one I am happy to say that today finds me enjoying the best of health and I hope this may find you and the Rest of you family enjoying the same blessing. You will see by the heading of my letter that we have got out of Tenn we started from Morristown Tenn the morning of the 17th March for Knoxville 42 miles distant after getting there we expected to hav gotten on to the cars by way of Chgattanooga but instead of that we ware ordered to get ready to march acrost the mountains well that made us feel very good natured you may imagin and what made us feel still more pleasant was the the Pay Master was ther to pay us of not having been payed for 4 months but Gen. Wilcocks then in command of the Corps would not let him pay us of till we got thru. I tell you if he ever comes in sight of the 9th Corps he will get more grones than cheers. We started out of Knoxville the 21st of Mar we went by the way of Jacksboro Crossing a range of the Cumberland Mountains which ware very steep and ruff all of the Bagage was carried on Pack Mules only what was sent by way of Chattanooga. We were 11 days marching thru from Knoxville to Nicholasville KJY,the distance was 182 miles we made 16 6/11 miles per day we had two snow storms and three rain storms in the time so taking everything in consideration we had a very pleasant time of it we stoped in Nicholasville one night and the next morning we took the cars and went through to Covington arriving there about midnight we then got of the cars and marched about one mile and went into some Barrocks for the night we stoped here one day I had a very good time while we were there I went all over the city and the evening went over into Cincinnati and went to the Theatger on the third of April we started from Covington and crossed the river and took the cars for Columbus OH we arrived there a little after dark there we had a supper given us we then started and went thru Sturbinsville OH here we were treated hansomely by the people they met us at the Depot with there baskets filled with all kinds of eatables which they distributed amongst us freely. We shall long remember that place. We then went thru to Pittsburg Penn where we had a very good supper given us from there we went thru to Baltimore we was one day in the city the reason we stoped there was to keep everything ????? during an election which they were having that day but everything passed of nicely and just before dark we started for Annapolis we arrived there about 12 o’ clock that night we lay on the cars till morning and then marched about one mile and marched into camp beside the Rail Road we have got a very good camp ground and it will probably be improved by drilling in a few days but I do not care for the drilling we have got out of Tenn and got plenty of rations that is something that we had not had a chance to sazy since we went in to Tenn till now. We shall probably stop here a month or so and then we shall start on an expedition but where I do not know it has been talked tha we should get a Furlow but I think the sight is small although I presume sosme will get a chance to go but I don’t think that I shall be for a furlow unless the whole Regt. Goes I rather I rather think that I will wate till my time is out and then come home on a long Furlow if I am spared so long. I hear that mother has been very sick with a fever but the last letter I received she was better and I hope she is well by this time. I written all that I can think of that will interest you this time hoping that you will write me soon I will close. Pleas give my respects to all of our friends and kiss the children for me. Pleas Except this from your Affectionate Brother Liberty W.Foskett Camp at Annapolis MD Letter #10 Camp at Annapolis, Md. Apr 22th/ 64 Dear Sister Abbie, It is a fine plesant morning about the first one we hav had since we came into Annapolis. This morning finds me enjoying the best of health and I hope this may find you and the rest of our family the same I received your letter last Wednsday and was very much pleased to here from you I had about given up the idea of hearing from you again but when I received your letter I did not think strang of your not writing we are now under marching orders and expect to leve tomorrow but where we are agoing is more than I now Some think one place and some think another I think that we hav had a long time to recruit up in dont you well I guess that we can stand it I think that we hav got some hard fighting to do this sumer. but I hav the strongest faith to believe that we shall wipe out most of them before next winter. although I dont think that the Rebelion will be crushed then for I think that it will hold out till the last. but they hav got to come under some time you said that you should like my photograph so yesterday I went down to the city and tried to get some taken but I could not get any taken so that I could get them before next week and we shall probably leve here before then. So that it would not be of any use to get them taken. So I got one taken in camp but it is not a very good one but it may answer till I can get a better one. I was a good deal surprised to here that mother had been so sick but I here that she is getting better and I hope she will be in the enjoyment of good health before many days. to my little Niece Carrie I was very much pleased to get a line from you it was quite interesting to me your mother says that you hav been very sick with the measles that was to bad for a good little girl like you. but I suspose that you hav got will now I dont suspose that I would now you now. if I were to see you. You have grown so. it will not be but a little while before you will get to be as big as your mother Emma has been to the Dancing School hasnt She: well I would like to be there to dance with hir I suspose that she is a very nice dancer well Carrie perhaps that I will be at home by the time that you get ???? to dance and then you and I and Emma will go to a Ball well Carrie I guess that I shall hav to close give my love to Emma and Willie and Except this from your Uncle Liberty well Abbie I hav about filled the sheat so I will hav to close by wishing you good evening give my Respects to Sylvender and Except this from your Brother & Friend Liberty W Foskett CO D 36 Regt. Mass Vol 9th AC
Letter #11 in Hospital at City Point July 3rd Dear Sister Abbie Having plenty of time to my self now that I am in the hospital I improve most of my time in writing although I do not get much news my health is good and my thumb has got most healed up I shall go to my Regt tomorrow or next day if nothing happens the hospital has been cleared out of all the worst cases and hav gone to Washington and from there those that wish to go home on a furlough can do so. the news from the front are nothing of importance of latiley the rebels hav charged on our lines several times but without any success having to fall back in disorder there is more or less charging on both sides but neither has gained much since the 20th of last month we hav got against the Rebels strongholds and it will be hard getting them out of there works by charging on them but I think the way Grant will get them out will be to cut the RRoads leading into Richmond if that can be done I think they will get out of Petersburg and Richmond too but that is the thing to do I hope it can be done I hav not received a letter from anyone since I came into the hospital but I shall expect 15 or 20 when I get to the Regt. I hope so anyway. The more the better well I hav written all that I can think of that will interest you and I guess more to. Give my love to all of your family and anyone else that inquires after me and kiss the children all around write often with all the news and Except this from your affectionate Brother L. W. Foskett Letter # 12 Near Petersburg, VA July 19th, 1864 Being at leisure this afternoon I will improve a few moments in writing to you. Today finds me enjoying good health and I hope that this finds you and the rest of you family the same. my thumb has got healed up in good shape although it is pretty tender yet. I came back to the Regt. About a week ago I found a letter there from you which I was very much pleased to receive.and was glad to here that you ware all well.most all of my letters that came to the Regt. After I was wounded they sent back to Washington susposing that I had ??? them ito the hospital. So I suspose that I never shall get them I am very sorry for if there is anything that I prize it is letters that come from Home but I want you Should all Rite and make up those I Received a letter from mother since I got back with 4 dollars in it which I was very thankful for as we have not been payed of for most 5 months Mother says 1 dollar I may thank you for and I will a thousand times and I hope I may be able to pay you in full sometime. There has not been any fighting of importance for a month but there is constant Skirmishing and cannonading going on Day and Night but it does not amount to anything there is one or more killed or wounded every day in front of us. we are 48 owers on picket and 48 owers of you can get more information from the papers than I can give you as to our situation I have not received a letter from the Dr for a long time although I suspose that one of the letters that was sent back to Washington was from him. I suspose that the people North are all scart up about the rebels coming into Maryland well I hope it will be a good thing to wake up there I dears the people North dont act as though there was any war (that is some of them) if a man is drafted there is anuff to pay his three hundred dollars and let him stay at home. If I look at it aright it is the men that we hav got to hav to close up this war not the $300 but then they can do as they think best for all I expect well I hav ritten all that I can think of for this time giv my love to all of your family and except the same write often and all the news and Except this from your Affectionate Brother Liberty W.Foskett Co D 36th Regt. Mass VOL 1st Brig. Div 9th ac PS Henry is well and cooking yet Letter # 13 Near Petersburg VA. August 5th, 1864 Dear Sister Abbie Supposing that you have hurd of the big fight that took place on the 30 of last month. I though I would penn you a few lines to let you now that I am Safe and well. Thru mistake our Regt. Was not actually engaged and lucky for us it was not. I suppose you have had a full description of the fight in the papers but then I will write a few words on the Subject the first thing in the morning was the blowing up of the rebel fort which lay just in front of where our Regt. Was on Skirmish. That took place just after day light it was a grand but awfull site. The first thing we felt was a tremendous jar. I looked then towards the fort and such a site I never saw before the air was filled with all kind of stuff which the fort contained men canon and all kinds of arms ??? about a fort was flying in the air mixed in with the earth it looked to me as more like a picture of a volcano as anything I can think of. As soon as the fort went up all of our Batries opened up on there works after cannonading about an hour the charge was made on there line of Brest works the first was carried and everything was going on nicely when the 4 Div of Nigroes made a charge and was repulsed and fell back in disorder so that all of our forces had to fall back to our first line our loss was great the negroes lost the most. At night our men held the same ground they did before they started in the morning. The Rebel loss was also large there was a great many of the Rebels was buried in there fort after we fell back all of our dead and wounded was left between the two lines our men imeadiatly sent in a flag of truce in order to get of our wounded and burry our dead but they would not except of it but would alow our men to go over and give the wounded warmth and put tents over them they lay there till the morning of August 1st when they excepted of the truce and our wounded was carried of and the dead buried. Since then everything has passed of quietly till last night just before dark the Rebels under took to blow up one of our forts but they did not get there powder under the fort as soon as they blew up what they supposed was the fort they started to charge but our men poured in grape and canister shot and they fell back there was considerable cannonading for about two owers when everything was as calm as before what the next move will be is more than I now. The weather is very hot here it is most time for the male to go out so I shall have to close give my love to Sylvandor and the children and write often and all the news. Pleas Except this from your Affectionate Brother Liberty W. Foskett 36th Regt. Mass vol 9th Army Corps Washington DC The above is a correct way to direct letters to me
Letter # 14 Near the Weldon Rail Road, VA Aug 29th Dear Sister Abbie, Yours of the 21st came to hand in due time and I was much pleased to here from you also to here that you was all well and I am happy to say that today finds me enjoying my usual good health and I hope this may find you all the same. you will see by the heading of my lketter that we have moved since I wrote you last. We are now Situated on the Weldon Rail Road and connect onto the 5th Corps on there right. The 5th Corps. Came here a few days before we did and took the Weldon Rail Road and we came down to Reenforce them we got them just in season to save them from going to Richmond as the Rebels had got them almost surrounded Gen Wilcocks Div was the first of our Corps to get into a line and engaged the enemy and drove them back after having a pretty hard fight. Our Div was in the Skirmish line some more than a day when we formed our line and built our brest works and have laid hewre ever since. The Rebels have made several attempts to dislodge us from the Rail Road but has been repulsed every time with great loss. We have got very strong works and I think we can hold them. I here Old Lee says he will take the RR back if it takes every man he has got. We now that it is a great loss to the Rebels losing the road and I presume they will make a desperate effort to drive us back. What the next movement will be is yet to be nown. Some mysterious move without doubt. I received a letter from Levi a few days ago he thought his health was some better than it was but he did not write where to direct so I cannot write to him until I learn where to direct. Fsor a week past we have had a good deal of rain which makes the roads very muddy. So that it is difficult getting thro with Artillary. But the are is much more refreshing. There is but little firing in front of our Corps since we cam here but we are in hearing of the firing from where we came from which is kept up the same as when we were there. If I live to get threw thjis campaign I think I shall come home on a furlough this fall or Winter if we are in this part of the country it is about time to sart us of to some other part of the United St but I do not think they can get us into a worse place than the Army of the Potomac. The health of the Regt is very good at this present time muc h better than it was last year. At this time we have but few back sick in the hospital. Several of our boys that was back in the Hospital have come up within a week. Salem Hill is one of them he is looking ruff as a Bone. Hdenry is cooking yet and is well. They have just commenced cannonading and we have got to lok out for an attack so I shall have to draw my letter to a close. Pleas write often and all the news give my respects to Sylvander and the children giving them each a kiss tell Carie I was much pleased with her ???? Pleas Except this from your own Affectionate Brother Liberty W. Foskett Letter # 15 Pegrams Farm VA Oct 13th 1864 Dear Sister Abbie Having a few leisure moments this afternoon I will improve them by writing to you I am happy to say that today finds me enjoying my usual good health and I hope this may find you all the same you have doubtless heard of the fight which took place on the 30th of last month near Pyrams Farms in which we were engaged we broke camp on the morning of the 30th about 10 o’clock in the forenoon and Comenced our advance the 5th Corps taking the lead our Corps being there support we had not gone far before our advance came on to the Rebel pickets and drove them in and the fun soon commenced they charged on there first line and took it without much opposition after resting hear for a while our Corps took the lead and commenced to advance but did not go far before we came on to them and commenced the days fight. We drove them for about ½ a mile when we were flanked both left and right and had to fall back in falling back we got separated and every man was for himself I went as far as I could and layed down beside a brook to get some water and to get a little rested but I had not been there but a little while when I heard the Rebel cavalry coming up in my rear and I started double quick they got site of me and let the bullets after me in quick time but I happened to escape them as it had now got to be dark and being in a thick woods they lost site of me I own my life to the darkness of the night and thick woods. I was nbsp; nbsp; nbsp; nbsp; ??????? about ½ a mile from the battle field and there formed our lines I got inside of our pickets about 8 o’clock and found a few of our Regts about 9. The boys kept coming in all night and some did not get in till the next day our Regt lost in killed wounded and missing 35 our. Co. 5. Charles Underwood of Templeton was wounded and left on the field F.A. Osborn of Royalton was wounded in the head and ???? he got off from the field John Lory was wounded in the leg and got back Martin V Couburn is missing also Geo. W. Bowker and Susposed to be prisoners. The last I see of Bowker was about half way back from the battle field our lines are now established in good shape and I think we can hold them. Constant skirmishing is agoing on the length of our lines but it does not amount to anything the weather is getting to be rather cold and we begin to think of winter quarters but I presume we shall not get them it will be something now if we do. I received a letter from Levi a few days ago you say you do not now wheather it is Leslie Wilder or Lossie Foskett I should think you must find out pretty easy I think I could if I were at home. I think it is very doubtful about my coming home on a Furlough this fall. I expect you had or are expecting to hav a visit from our Champlain Copusins I should like very much to be there my self to hav a visit with them but that cannot be. I will now hav to close as my sheet is about full My love to Sylvendor and the children and except thjis with much love from your Affectionate Brother Liberty W. Foskett Letter # 16 Front Of Petersburg, VA, Dec. 27th. Dear Sister Abbie, Being at leisure this morning I will improve a few moments by writing to you. This morning finds me the same as usual enjoying good health. And I trust that this may find you all thje same. . we have moved since I wrote you last we are now in Fort Rice doing garrison duty it is a much different place than we had on the left of our lines here there is constant skirmishing thru the night also cannonading. There is but little skirmishing thru the day. Most of the cannonading is done in the day time. We can keep paertly safe inside the fort unless the Johnnies get to throwing mortar shells. Then we have to find our holes inside the bomb proof. They have thrown several inside of the fort but know one of our Regt has been hurt by them as yet. We have got very good quarters here now considering that we are on the front line. We have rather uncomfortable weather here for the last two weeks cold and raining most of the time. We have had a little snow once about two inches but it did not last long. Deserters are coming into our lines every night. Last week there was 70 came in. they average from 30 to 50 a night. That will reduce Lee’s army by spring if they keep it up. According to the accounts in the paper Sherman is doing a big thing as well as Thomas which you know as much about as I do. Well Abbie we are 8 months men now just 8 months from today our time will be out. Unless we reenlist which we shall all probably do (over the left) I received a letter from Wellington and one from mother yesterdaysaying that they were all well Know further news. Mr Osborn has got back to the regiment he spoke of seeing you on the cures. Tell Carrie and Miller that there letters were very interesting and should be pleased to hear from them again. Say to Emma she must write to me and I will anser it. I received a letter from Levi the other day saying that his health was improving which I was pleased to hear you say that you do not think that he is happy I’m very sorry of that I don’t know why he should not be unless it is on account of his health. You say that you sazhll always call me brother and I assure you that I shall always be proud to call you sister. I left home to be in that state. I think you must be endowed with bost sence and knowledge to write such interesting letters as yours always are. I shall hav to send this letter without a stamp as I hav not got any and cannot get any out here now. But I very much dislike to it out hope you will excuse me this time as my sheet is getting nearly full I shall have to close. My love to S and the children and don’t forget to have a share yourself. Wrtite often and all the news. Pleas except this from your affectionate brother. Liberty W. Foskett. Letter #17 Fort Rice before Petersburg Va January 31st Dear Sister Abbie Your of the 26th I received yesterday and was most pleased to here from you also to hear that you are all well I am happy to say that today finds me enjoying my usual good health. there has nothing of importance taken place hear since I wrote you last. we are still in fort Rice as you will see by the heading of my letter. we have been expecting to be relieved by the 5th Corps for some time but there is know more sines of it now then there was a month ago. everything is very quiet along the line there is but little picket firing either day or night our picket lines are so close to the other that our boys are talking with the Johnies all of the time. Yesterday they had a great time cutting trees between the picket lines there was a tree in front of our regiment about half way between our line and the Johnies so our boys agreed with the Johnies to come half way and cut the tree and divide it equal so they both started and come together and cut the tree and divided it and carried half into our pits and half into theirs : after that they was trading together all day. Trading Jack knives and such trinkets for tobacco mostly. There has been a flag of truce out two days agoing for some cause or other there is all sorts of stories as to its meaning but none that can be relied upon. we are having very fine weather hear now it is pretty cool but pleasant we hav know snow. They are granting 5th regiment artillery of the enlisted men furloughs there is given a number out of our Regt that are at home now on 20 days furloughs there is one out of our company George S Wright of Templeton our captain is at home on a 20 days furlough. So I am in command of the Co and I do not get any time to go any where but my work is not hard. I dont think of coming home on a furlough as we hav not got but 7 months longer to stop with Uncle Sam and then if I am spared I shall visit old Massachusetts. there was a piece in the papers a few days ago saying that Gen Burnside was to hav command if it be true we shall probably go where ever he has a command. I hope he will hav a command out side of this department as this is not a very desirable place. I received a letter from mother & one from Levi a few days ago saying they were all well I am happy to here that Levi is enjoying himself so well. You speak of seeing a Miss Flint and also of a young man by the name of Lionel in the Regt who corresponds with her Edwin. Lionel of whom you speak is a member of our company and tents with me. I hav hurd him speak of Miss Flint several times and I was aware that he corresponds with hir and I think he thinks a great deal of hir I was a little surprised to hear that she did not hav the love for him. as for my name being on a slip of paper in one of his letters is a mistry to me as I do not know anything about it it must been threw misstake as Lionel says he does not know anything about it Lionel is a good fellow and I hope she will not disappoint him I am a thousand times obliged to you for those stamps you sent. Now Abbie write of home and all of the news give my love to Sylvender and kiss the children tell Emma I did expect a letter from hir soon I will now close by wishing you good night please except from your true Brother Liberty W. Foskett Letter # 18 Camp at Farmville Va April 16th 1865 Dear Sister Abbie Having a few leisure moments to spare this afternoon I will improve them in writing to you to let you know that I am still in the land of the living. I hav not time to give you a full account of what we have thru since we left Petersburg and the fight there we ware not actively engaged but ware where we could see the whole of the days fight. We ware left in Fort Rice for guard for Gen. Park our Corps Commander. His HD Quarters ware in the Fort during the days fight we ware sent for three diferent times to charge on one of the enemys Forts in our front but Gen Park would not let us go and it was a very lucky bit for us that he kept us the enemy left the night after the fight and we started on after them. we went threw Petersburg and had a good chance to see where our shells had smashed into some of the buildings. Just before we got into Petersburg the President ? and General Grant passed us and went into Petersburg and from there to Richmond our line of march has been from Petersburg along the South Side RR we hav not had a chance to do any fighting since we left our fort in front of Petersburg the Cavalry has had considerable fighting to do until we got here surrounded some 20 miles along here he had to surrender the whole of is Army which you hav heard a full account of before this the whole of the Army came back here to draw rations before starting for ther homes officers as well as men I hav had a chance to see most of his general officers and all of there enlisted men ???? glad that the war seems so near to a close there is everything ?? that there is to know more fighting to be done in Virginia of any importance there best Army is disbanded and sent to there homes with there leading General. we do not expect to stop here but a few days longer but where we are to go is more than I know. We may go to Texas Ithink there is where the fighting will be if there is any more to speak of Johnsons Army will go up if it hasnt already unless he will have to surrender for Texas and that will be death to him and his. A slight description of Farmville and I will close. it was once a flourishing cattle village some larger than Winchendon most of the buildings are built of brick theres three large meeting houses in the place two hotels town house and several large Tobaco establishments it is situated on the capitals south side RR and on the Appotomatox river it is a hot ??? hole but the inhabitants keep fairly ? ?? there are several large stores in the place but they are all closed Well sister this has been a short letter but I hav not time to write anymore. My Respects to S & the children and a share your self Please write often and all the news and remember your affectionate Brother Liberty W. Foskett Letter # 19 Camp 36th Regiment Mass Vols Near Alexandria Va May 17th 1865 Dear sister It being to hot a day for drilling I will improve a few moments in writing to you today finds me enjoying the best of health and I trust that this may find you & the rest of your family the same we are stationed some two miles from Alexandria just outside of the ??confines of the city we hav got a very pleasant camp ground and are having a pretty easy time to what we have had since we came into Uncle Sams Service we hav to drill two hours per day and dress parade. the weather today is part warm and we hav to keep under the shade to keep comfortable the most of the Army of the Potomac is stationed about Washington & Alexandria awaiting the final review of the Army and then I understand that they are to commence to muster out some of the troops. I think that we shall get home before our time is out and a good many think we shall be home by the middle of next month I trust that we shall but do not know. I do not think there will be any more fighting in this section of the country there may be a little in Texas but they will soon be wiped out. I little thought two months ago that the Rebellion would be wiped out so soon but after the surrender of Lees Army they ware given up and they all felt it. I got a letter from Levi a short time ago and he thought that he should come out and see some of the old battlefields I should like to show him round if I could get a furlough to go back to City Point Va. But I do not suspose that I could get away now as we are straitenning out the Companies Accounts and shall be pretty buisey until we get out of the service. I will send you a Photograph of my Tent-mate it is a poor picture but looks a little like him. as it is most time for the mail to go out I shall hav to close my respects to Sylvender & the children and a share yourself. And except this from your affectionate Brother Liberty W. Foskett Co D 36th Regt. Mass Vols Henry has just come up to my tent and says give my respects to Abbie . gsrx vers 856 (GS 7.0.20 (856))

Antique 1863-1865 CIVIL WAR DIARY LOT Gettysburg WARWICK MA Soldier’s Sister
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Up for auction is the wonderful archive of 3 civil war diaries from a woman named Augusta M. Ward, whose brother Artemas Ward, was a soldier in the 15th Massachusetts Regiment and was wounded in Gettysburg. Augusta was in her 30’s when she wrote the diaries, and she followed the war closely. Included in this archive is an 1863 diary, 1864 diary, and 1865 diary. Her diaries contain numerous entries about the war, including entries on a Gettysburg and her brother being wounded, the death of Stonewall Jackson, resignation of General Hooker, Death of General Sigwick, the surrender of Lee, assassination of Lincoln, capture and killing of John Wilkes booth, the hanging of the Conspirators, etc, etc. There are also numerous entries on how the civil war affected the people of Warwick, Massachusetts including soldier deaths, injuries, and soldiers captured & held in rebel prisons. Listed below are some notable excerpts from the diaries, though there are still a few other Civil War related entries in the journal which are not included in the list. The diaries all have an entry for every day with the exception of the 1864 diary which has no entry for 6/21/1864. The diaries are all different sizes, the 1863 one is 5 x 3 1/4 inches, 1864 is 4 7/8 x 3 inches, and 1865 4 x 2 5/8 inches. The diaries are all written in ink. For the most part the entries are neat and legible for those who are accustomed to reading old cursive. The covers have some minor wear but overall display nicely. Also included in this lot are some print outs I was able to find on Artemas Ward & his time in the army. Excerpts from diaries:18631/8 “Severe fighting at Vicksburg”1 22 “We hear that Burnsides army is moving has crossed the river”1/31 “General Hooker takes the Potomac Army”2/1 “Samuel Moore’s hung himself at Northfield today.”2/7 “53rd Regiment is at Tortugas Islands”2/14 “Had another letter from Artemas, the ninth army has left Falmouth”2/21 “The 36th are at Fortress Monroe, no movement now.”3/24 “Went to the Lyceum heard a address from Hon Wm Windom upon the causes and results of this terrible war”3/25 “The ninth army corps has gone and the 36th are gone to Kentucky and the 21st Regiment”5/1 “Gen Hookers army has crossed the Rappahannock ”5 5 “There has been terrible fighting going on in Hookers army”5/9 “Received a letter from Artemas saying he had been in a battle before Fredericksburg Gen Hooker has had a hard fight”5/16 “Stonewall Jackson is dead the papers are sure of it.”5/25 “news that Vicksburg is taken”6/8 “Report that Gen Hooker has crossed Rappahannock. Gen grant is besieging Vicksburg”6 30 “heard there had been terrible fighting at Port Hudson Jacob Raynor was wounded there”7/1 “Gen Hooker has resigned Gen Meade takes his place. Dark gloomy times.”7/5 “Jacob Raynor has had his leg amputated ”7 6 “Terrible fighting we heard there had been in Gettysburg on Friday last Col Ward of the 15th killed.”7/7 “Theodore Putnam was wounded at Gettysburg”7 8 “News came that Vicksburg surrendered on the 4th”7/10 “Had a letter from Artemas he was wounded in the shoulder on the 2nd is in the hospital at Philadelphia ”7 14 “A Terrible riot commenced in New York yesterday opposition to the draft”7/16 “George Hatch has been drafted drafting is going on all over the state, we hear Port Hudson has surrendered ”7 24 “Josiah Proctor has enlisted in the heavy artillery ”7 30 “The Rebel Morgan is taken”8/18 “Milton Bliss oldest son has died in the army”8/30 “All societies came to our Church this afternoon to the funeral of John Caldwell Mr Blanchard text Psalm 23rd,, 4th the returned soldiers for bearers John enlisted on his 19th birthday died on the 20th Aug 25th.”9/8 “Received a letter from Artemas. All sick that belong to the 36th but Mr Cooper and Joseph Williams ”9 25 “Gen Rosecrans has been having a terrible battle near Chat[t]anooga”10 16 “Mr Mills had a son killed at Chicamauga [Chickamauga] Georgia ”10 20 “The President has called for 300,000 more men”11/7 “There was a battle in Virginia ”11 16 “Gen Burnside’s resignation has been accepted Gen Foster put in his place.”11/30 “Terrible account we have of the Union prisoners suffering at Richmond and too true ” Memoranda at rear list names of 22 local men drafted in July & deaths of 7 Warwick soldiers including John B. Caldwell who died on his 20th birthday (an earlier entry mentions he enlisted on his 19th birthday), and a list of 6 battles 18642 17 “Charles E. Randall has enlisted from here”2/18 "S. C. Reed & Charles R. Gale were round procuring our last quota of soldiers”2/23 “George Cook came home today and is discharged. Henry Manning came home on furlough, & has reenlisted”3 8 “Charles Jones was killed at the battle in Florida” 3/13 “Arlan Atherton is here on furlough and has reenlisted”3 17 “Amos Taylor has enlisted again”3/23 “Gen Grant takes the place of Gen Hallick [Halleck]”5/7 “Heard of fighting in Gen Butlers & Gen Mead’s division took place yesterday & day before”5/11 “We heard of Gen Sedgwick being killed and more fighting, fighting commenced Thursday last”5/14 “Sumner Lincoln is wounded in the knee, and Lyman is killed we hear”5/17 “14 men have been drafted from Warwick”5/27 “We hear Joseph Sawyer is killed, Harwood Proctor is a prisoner we fear”5/29 “Henry Fuller is wounded and missing”5/30 “Joseph Sawyer is not killed but wounded and taken prisoner I hear”6/2 “Papers say the siege of Richmond is begun”6/6 “Gen Grant is within twelve miles of Richmond” 7/6 “The Pirate Alabama is sunk”7/9 “Another Rebel raid in progress into Maryland and Pennsylvania dark times. One hundred days men called out from the states.”8/2 “There has been an unsuccessful attack upon Petersburg”8 25 “Heard Arlan Atherton was killed”8/26 “Heard James Delvee was severely wounded”9/3 “It has been seen in a paper that Arlan Atherton is in Libby Prison”9/15 “Edward Davis is missing. Henry Manning is prisoner”9/22 “Arlan Atherton we hear is paroled or exchanged and is at Annapolis. We hear of a great Victory by Gen Sheridan in Shenandoah valley” 10/25 “Amos Taylor has been heard from, is a prisoner in Virginia somewhere” 11/14 “President Lincoln is elected”12/3 “Much anxiety is felt about Gen Sherman”12/8 “Mrs Albee has heard that her brother died in Andersonville”12 12 “We hear but little from the army now communication cut off”12/14 “Dreadful accounts we have of starvation and suffering of our prisoners, now being exchanged and others” Memoranda at the rear lists 2 local soldier deaths and 1 missing & list of 14 men drafted in Warwick 18651 6 “The enrolled men of Warwick, Northfield & Orange, meet at Orange to choose captain. Henry Jilson [Jillson] was chosen captain.”1/13 “Gen Butler is relieved of his command because of the Wilmington failure” 1/24 “Glorious news from the army now”3/4 “Inauguration of President Lincoln the second time”4/4 “Quite a public demonstration over the news Richmond is Taken & Petersburg”4 10 “Heard the good news that Gen Lee’s army is taken”4/15 “Terrible news of President Lincoln’s death and other assasinations”4 18 “J. Wilkes Booth is the man who killed the President it appears.”4/19 “There were union services here at the Unitarian Church at the same hour of the President’s Funeral, and consecration of the new burying ground afterwards”4 27 “Booth that killed the President was caught and killed.”5/10 “Disabled soldiers, those on parole, and recruits are being discharged”5 15 “Jeff Davis is caught we hear”7/7 “Heard today that Harold [Herold], Payne [Powell?], and Atzeroth [Azteroth], and Mrs. Surratt, we’re hung as assassins” ***Memoranda at the rear lists 2 local soldier deaths Please look at all the photos to further note the conditionThe cost of shipping includes insurance & signature confirmation (Condition: Pre-Owned)

Three CIVIL WAR SOLDIER DIARIES - 57th Pennsylvania Infantry - Battle Content !!
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Civil War Diaries !!These three (3) incredible diaries were kept by Samuel Brown Beatty (1818-1863) of Co. E, 57th Pennsylvania Infantry. Samuel was 44 years old when he enlisted as a private in October 1861. At the time of his enlistment, he was described as a 5 foot 11 inch tall shoemaker with dark eye color and black hair. When he joined his comrades in arms, he left a wife—Susan M. (Walker) Beatty (1823-1899) and at least eight children in Delaware Grove, Mercer county, Pennsylvania. Samuel’s parents were Francis G. Beatty (1789-1872) and Isabella Williamson (1792-1879). Also serving in the war was Samuel’s oldest son, David “Walker” Beatty (1844-1863)—a member of Co. K, 63rd Pennsylvania Infantry. David’s letters to his mother can be found transcribed on the Spared & Shared blog.An extremely pious man, Samuel often urged his wife to pray for him such as the following passage: “Now I want you to always remember me in your prayers that I may not falter in well doing and that I may be preserved from evil and sin of every kind. That I may be prepared to stand my lot and always be found at my post let that be what it may.” Tragically, Samuel never returned home from the war. He died at the Union Hotel Hospital in Georgetown on 18 January 1863 from wounds that he received in action at the Battle of Fredericksburg on 13 December 1862. Likewise, Samuel’s son Walker died in a Georgetown hospital less than a month later on 7 February 1863 and was interred at the Soldier’s Home Cemetery (Grave 3344).Too many pages to show in the pictures! We tried to show a variety. The diaries are in good condition. All transcribed - see below. We will also enclose the transcriptions for the winning bidder TRANSCRIPTIONS of all three diaries follow ! (We will also enclose the transcriptions) Diary # 1April 8, 1861—Left home at two o’clock intending to go to Georgetown. The roads were so bad I thought best to go to the Oil. Got to Brownsville at six o’clock. Stayed all night with Mr. Kitch. Next morning started for Franklin by way of Waterloo. Arrived at Franklin half past eleven. Took dinner at the Lamberton House, then started for the Oil. Went up the two mile run. Stayed over night. Next morning started for Oil Creek. Arrived there at ten and a half o’clock. Started up the creek to see what could be seen. Arrived at at twelve. Got dinner. Started up the creek to the mouth of Cherry Tree Run. Went up the run about eighty rods. Saw what was to be seen. There is land to be leased on that run for one hundred dollars per acre, the third of the oil. Started back for the mouth of the creek. Arrived there at five o’clock. Stopped at Mr. Thomas’s Hotel. Stayed there till next morning. Started up the creek again looking around awhile. Came back to the tavern, got dinner, and then started for Two Mile Run again. Arrived there at four. Stayed around till next morning. Went to work for Clark & Co. chopping wood Friday and Saturday.April 14th—Sabbath morning. Contemplate going to preaching. The morning is rather dull and cloudy but God is ever good and kind to me notwithstanding my waywardness. Still His grace is sufficient for me. Went to preaching. Heard a sermon by a young man from Job 30:23, “For I know thou wilt bring me to death the house appointed for all living.” The sermon was a running discourse on the certainty of death and its consequences. It brought me to contemplate my later end and examine my prospect for a happy death and glory and immortality beyond. I feel like praising God for my hope of eternal life and blessedness beyond the grave.Monday, April 15—Went and turned till eight o’clock, then went to chopping wood. Cut and racked three cords that day before sundown.April 16, 1861—Went to work quarrying stone for Mr. Lundy till noon. Then went to Franklin and it snowed like everything and such roads I never did see. Got back about dark 17th—Wednesday morning. Snowed five inches deep. Went to fixing up an [ ] to go to chopping but it is rather bad day for work but it is a first rate day for loafing. Went to work at nine and put up two cords and a half that day 18th—Thursday It still snows but not so bad as the day before. Cut wood all that day. Cut two cords and a half of engine wood and was pretty tired again night 19th—Friday morning. It still snows. Wrote a letter to my wife and children and then went to see the burning well on the creek and it was the greatest sight that I have seen. In the first place, it burnt for two rods around at least and the smoke looks like a cloud. It can be seen for miles Editor’s Note: An oilfield tragedy occurred on 17 April 1861 when a highly pressurized well’s geyser of oil explodes in flames on the Buchanan Farm at Rouseville, killing the well’s owner and more than a dozen bystanders. Sometimes called “Oil Well Fire Near Titusville” but more accurately, Rouseville, the early oilfield tragedy was overshadowed by the greater tragedy of the firing on Fort Sumer. The well spouted furiously for many hours, and the column of flame extended often two and three hundred feet in height, the valley being shut in, as it were, by a dense and impenetrable canopy of overhanging smoke. Fifteen persons were instantly killed by the explosion of the gas, and thirteen others scarred for life. [Source: Rouseville 1861 Oil Well Fire]20th—Saturday Worked for Mr. Lundy at stone works and it wore my hands to the quick.Sabbath morning, April 21st—This calm beautiful and serene [day], my thoughts are in unison with the morning. Contemplate going to preaching. Went to church and heard a sermon from a local preacher of the Methodist Church from first John 4: 1st verse. “Beloved, believe not every spirit but by the spirits whether they be of God ”22nd—Monday Went to work for Mr. Clark at chopping and picking brush. Nothing particular that day.23rd—Went to work for Lundy & Co. at masoning and carpentering preparing for setting their engine. Think considerable of home.“Nothing special beyond the usual events of labor and toil incident to oil life. Business is very dull on the run at present. The war absorbs the attention of almost every person.”— Samuel Brown Beatty, 24 April morning. Went to work for Lundy but it is so wet that we did not work long. Cleared up soon. Went to work again the rest of the week for him. Nothing special beyond the usual events of labor and toil incident to oil life. Business is very dull on the run at present. The war absorbs the attention of almost every person.The next week work for Clark again and the work sets pretty hard on me. My hands are sore and my arms are stiff but still enjoy pretty good health.Sabbath, May 5th—This morning is beautiful but it seems that we have no sabbath here for while I write, I hear the sound of the harness and the noise of the men at work…May 7th—Went to work for Mr. Hock at turning the drill. It is a new business to me and it goes rather awkward but it is not hard work. Think I can stand to work at it. Get a dollar a day and board myself. Get board for two dollars and a half a week.Sabbath, May 12th—This morning I am at the house of an Irish Catholic. Taken boarding for a short time. Read some Catholic papers and periodicals. Saw some good pieces and some rather objectionable but the women are as most people. They are clean and good cooks so that I live very comfortable considering I’m not at home.Sabbath, May 19th—This morning got up at seven and took breakfast. Feel very lonesome. Wish I was at home to spend the day with wife and children. It is hard to spend the day without good book or good people to converse with on God’s Holy Day but still I can examine with my own the diary entries stop until after Samuel has enlisted in the 57th Pennsylvania Volunteers ]Thursday October 17, 1861—Left for Mercer to go to Camp Griffith to join the regiment for the war. I felt very sorry about it but I felt it to be my duty to go. I left Mercer on the 18th for Camp Curtin. Arrived there on the 19th. Pitched my tent on the same day. On the Sabbath, went to preaching. On Monday, fooled around and did not do much. On Tuesday, moved into tents and policed the grounds. Thought a good deal about home. Still I am content and do the best that I can and put my trust in God to guide me in the path of duty.October 23—Nothing new but the drill which is not hard work. Had a little touch of the dysentery. It did not last long.October 24th—I am well today and am able to drill thanks be to God for His goodness to me, unworthy though I am.October 25th—This day wrote a letter to my neice Lou and then went to squad drill for an hour. Then into company drill for an hour and a half, then went to dinner. It rained and then we went to drill again in the afternoon. This morning, changed quarters. Slept very well.October 26th—Saturday morning. This day on guard for the first time. I feel well in my mind this morning thanks to the goodness of God for keeping me staid on Him amidst temptations. I can still say that I will leave unto thee, my Savior and my King. This afternoon wrote a letter to my beloved wife and children. Then went on guard again/October 27th—Sabbath morning. Came off guard at 5. Went to bed till breakfast. Got up and washed and eat, then went to my tent and had prayer with Mr. W____ from Jamestown. We had a very good time of it. We had the presence of the spirit of God to view in our hearts with love towards Him. At ten, went to preaching. Came back and got dinner and then wrote a letter to my Father. At three went to preaching again. At six went to prayer meeting and we had a very pleasant time of it. The gracious presence of God’s spirit was shone to warm our hearts.October 28th—Monday morning. Arose at five. It is a beautiful morning. Got breakfast at six. Fell alright this morning. Roll call at half past seven. Nothing new this day but usual dress parade and drill. Roll call at eight; went to bed.October 29th—Tuesday morning. Got up at five. it is clear and a little frost. It was pretty cold last night but it is pleasant today. Went on guard at nine. Nothing new till evening when some of the boys raised a row but it passed off and no harm done. There was a man shot on guard tonight.October 30th—Wednesday Feel sleepy. There is no drill this morning and we had no drill till evening when we had Dress Parade and then company drill. The new recruits came in about 7. Went to bed about nine. Slept very well.October 31st—Thursday morning up at five. Considerable [ ] in them recruits. We attached ourselves to the [ ] Grey’s, Capt. [James B.] Moore.November 1, 1861—This day went to Harrisburg and was mustered into the United States service and seen the town. Came back to camp and then we dragged our overcoats. On guard today. It rained the most of the night.November 2nd—It is still wet and it is cold and disagreeable. I begin to taste the sweets of a soldier’s life and it’s not very pleasant. Today I think a good deal about how my wife and children is getting along but I can still resign all unto the hand of an all-wise God to take care of them.November 3rd—Sabbath morning. It is more pleasant this day than it was yesterday. We had prayer in our tent this morning and enjoyed myself very well. It is pleasant to read the bible and join in worship with those that have God.November 4th—Monday. This day on guard. There is nothing of importance going on in the camp today. We had some fun to keep the soldiers breaking guard.November 5th—Tuesday. Came off guard this morning. Sleepy. This day got our uniforms—one coat, pants, 2 shirts, 2 pair of drawers, two pair of socks, one pair of shoes. Nothing new this day.November 6th—Monday morning. Got up at five and went to the commissary and got our rations for the day. It is raining this morning and we have no wood in the camp today and cannot get any. Have to burn coal and it is very cold but it is not our Colonel’s fault for he has not the command of the camp.November 7th—Thursday. This day on guard. It is pleasant but cold. We are better supplied with wood today. I feel well thanks be to God for his goodness and mercy to me.November 8th—Friday. Came off guard this morning. Feel well and enjoy camp life very well. I would like to see Susan and the children but have not repented coming yet. Our captain is the officer of the day and no drill today.November 9th—Saturday. Camp police today. Nothing new today.November 10th—Sabbath. This is a beautiful day. Went to preaching at ten. Had an excellent sermon by a young man from Pittsburgh. I feel to enjoy the presence of God this day in my heart. I am on guard today.November 11th—Monday. Came off guard this morning. It is raining this morning but it cleared up at noon and it is warm and clear. Nothing new today.November 12th—Tuesday. It is clear this morning. Up at five o’clock. Got breakfast at six and then went to the commissary for our rations. I am well and feel to rejoice in God, my Savior. Some grumbling about the rations but I feel satisfied with mine.November 13th—Wednesday Up at five. Feel well this morning. It is a beautiful day. We are moving our tents and policing our grounds and I am guarding our stuff. It is noon and no sign of dinner yet. Got dinner and put up our tent. Felt tired. Mr. Forrest looks sick today.November 14—Thursday. Got up at five. Roll call at six. Then breakfast. Mr. Forrest no better. Called the doctor to see him. On guard today. Nothing new today. 35 of our men on guard tomorrow November 15—Friday. It snowed some last night for the first this fall here and it was wet and cold all day. Mr. Forrest is no better.November 16—Saturday. Cold and windy today. Mr. Forrest is no better. Took him to the hospital and I stayed with him all day and night. Think he is better.November 17th—Sabbath. It is still cold and windy. I think Mr. Forrest is a little better this morning. There is about twenty-five in the hospital and some of them is very bad. Nothing new in camp this morning November 18th—Monday. This morning is clear and more calm. With Mr. Forrest in the hospital all day. Thanks be to God, I am well and can still say that my trust is in Him for his mercy endureth forever November 19th—Tuesday. Still clear and beautiful. The air is refreshing. I am well and in good spirits. On guard today and wrote two letters—one to my wife and one to D. M. Beaty. Nothing of interest today.November 20th—Wednesday Came off guard this morning and feel sleepy and tired.November 21st—Thursday This is a fine day and there is nothing new of interest November 22nd—Friday. Still pleasant and warm but looks like [we are in] for a change. Company and regimental drill today.November 23rd—Saturday This morning it is raining and it is cold and disagreeable. On guard today. Cleared up at noon and was a fine evening November 24th—Sunday. This morning it is snowing and cold. There is no preaching in camp and it is hard to spend the Sabbath without some exercise November 25th—Monday. Got up at five. Stood around till breakfast and then went out on drill for an hour and then came and took dinner. Then regimental [drill] and after that dress parade.November 26th—Tuesday morning up at five. Feel well. Morning drill and then went on guard at one. Nothing new.November 27th—Wednesday Sent to hunt for a deserter. Marched to the city and scouted around all day and did not find him. Came back tired. Got a bad cold.November 28th—Thursday Thanksgiving Day. No drill. Had a sermon today. Nothing of interest November 29th—Friday. Up at five. It is raining this morning. On guard today. Feel and realize the goodness of God in sparing my life and health this far notwithstanding my sins and folly. There was a death in our regiment last night and the funeral today.November 30th—Saturday Came off guard and this morning it is still wet and cold. Have the headache a little but feel well. Wrote a letter to A. Walker. Dress parade.December 1st—Sabbath morning. Feel well today and it is cold. At noon it snowed. Had a sermon today by the chaplain. Did not hear much of it so could not enjoy the service December 2nd—Monday. Up at five. It is cold and frosty. Got breakfast. Was ordered to go to the city for two of our men that broke guard. Did not find them. Had regimental drill.December 3rd—Tuesday. On guard. Today has been the coldest day that has been this fall. It froze hard. One of our regiment died today, the second death of our men.December 4th—Wednesday This day is some warmer. Nothing of interest but regimental drill.December 5th—Thursday. Up at five. Regimental drill in the morning, at two, company drill, at four Dress Parade. Felt tired.December 6th—Friday. This is a fine day. Usual drill and then our Colonel marched us out and marched us down to the river and then we got our dinner. Company drill and dress parade.December 7th—Saturday. This is a very foggy day and the usual regimental drill and then we got our position in the regiment. we have the right center.December 8th—Sabbath. Up at sun. Roll call at seven. Got breakfast and then wrote a letter and then went to church and back and closed a letter to my wife. Nothing else of importance till evening prayers and then went to bed.[One week’s entries are ….ton was all night on the road.December 15th–Sunday. Got to Baltimore after a long and rough ride. I think that the government ought to provide better transportation for her troops. We got dinner there and then started for Washington. We had a slow and cold time of it. Got there about half past nine. Stayed there all night.December 16th—Monday morning. Got breakfast and then started for Camp Allegheny. Got there and pitched our tents and slept on the ground.December 7th—Tuesday morning. Felt bad. Had the headache and some sore throat but not bad. Drill today [Editor’s note: Several days entries are skipped in Samuel’s diary at this point. The regiment set up its camp on the Bladensburg Pike, near the toll gate. Considerable sickness had prevailed before leaving Camp Curtin, and the exposure of the men on the journey, confined in box cars without fire, contributed to increase it. The new camp, unfavorably located on low wet ground, and the inclemency of the weather while there, caused a still further increase of the sick list, and several died.]December 18th—Wednesday Nothing new or of much interest in camp today. There was a report that there was one of our regiment shot last night.December 19th—Thursday morning. On guard this day. Nothing of interest today but the nigger scrape which I know nothing about—only hearsay. But the Colonel had him drummed out of the camp and he pretended to be almost killed but he was not much hurt.December 20th—Friday. We had no drill today and nothing of much interest. Feel some anxiety about the family at home but I am still resigned December 21st—Saturday We spent this day in doing nothing but we spent the day somehow. I got a letter from S. Loveland today and was surprised to hear that I had written home that he had sold his men.December 22nd—Sabbath. This morning up at six. Roll call, then review and inspection. Spent the rest of the day in our quarters reading in prayers before going to bed.December 23rd—Monday. It is raining this morning and it is cold and spitting snow this evening. Cold and windy—it blew all night.December 24th—Tuesday morning it is still cold and windy but it is clear. Lieutenant [William S.] Ebberman arrived from Camp Curtin with the sick and the Colonel left for home.December morning. This is Christmas Day. Up at five and got breakfast at seven. Guard today. Nothing new or of interest today. Wish I was at home to eat dinner with my wife and children December 26th—Thursday Day after Christmas. It is wet and disagreeable. Got orders to move our camp today.December 27th—Friday morning up at five and got breakfast. Moved our camp today.December 28th—Saturday The Colonel came back today and some of our sick. Got a letter from my wife today and it done more good than my dinner.December 29th—Sabbath. Inspection today and then went to preaching and heard a good sermon by the chaplain. from Romans 6th Chapter and 23rd Verse; “The wages of sin is death” ad it was a very plain and practiced discourse—one that was calculated to touch the feelings of any sensible man.December 30th—Monday. On guard today and it is only five days since I was on before but I will not complain but do my duty as a good soldier December 31st—Tuesday. Up and breakfast at six and we had a review and mustered for pay today by a United States officer and we expect to draw some pay soon. This is the last day of the year and it is a most delightful day, It is warm and pleasant and as clear as a summer’s day and we have had no snow here since we came 1862January 2nd—Thursday. This is a clear and cold day and I have a very bad cough but I am still able for duty, thanks be to God for his goodness and mercy to me.January 3rd—Friday morning it is clear and cool but pleasant. We have not got our pay yet and we are all out of money and stationery and tobacco and such things as that.January 4th—Saturday. This morning there is a little snow—the first that has been since we came here but it was but a shift.January 5th—Sabbath. It is clear and beautiful this Holy day but we are under obligation yo desecrate the day by the order of our officers as we have review and inspection on the Sabbath only. But our Colonel says that it is an army regulation January 6th—Monday. Last night it snowed about two inches which was the first that we have had since we came here.Assigned duty as Hospital NurseJanuary 7th—Tuesday. It is still cold this morning but it is clear and it got pleasant about noon. Went to the hospital this afternoon as a nurse at twenty dollars a month but it is hard work to wait on the sick.January 8th—Wednesday In the hospital twelve hours and there was two discharged today and some are worse and some are improving. Nothing new.January 9th—Thursday. This morning is wet and foggy but it cleared up at noon and was pleasant till night. In my ward till midnight January 10th—Friday. Up at eight and got breakfast at nine and then run down to the quarters. Came back and wrote a letter to my wife. Then went to the hospital till twelve at night. There is some sick boys there but the most of them are better.January 11th—Saturday Up at seven. Eat at eight. Then went over to the hospital and seen the boys. Then went to the quarters. We got new guns today. Nothing else of interest. Clear today.January 12th—Sunday. This is the day the Lord has made but it is not kept here as if it was the Sabbath. There is 16 in this morning and they was doing pretty well but I have thought this day of the goodness of God in sparing me thus far.January 13th—Monday. It is cold and windy this morning and there was four brought to the hospital today and four left—two discharged and two sent to the General Hospital January 14th—Tuesday. The snow is about two inches deep this morning and it still snows but it quit about ten. I am in the hospital at noon and the boys are all better but two.January 15th—Wednesday It sleeted last night and froze on the snow and it rained today and froze. All day in the hospital as nurse. Two went to the city hospital. I feel well and I thank God for it.January 16th—Thursday It has cleared up this morning and it looks pleasant. I sleep about five hours a day now since I came to the hospital but my health is good, thanks be to God for it.January 17th—Friday. wrote a letter to my niece Lori this morning. In the hospital at twelve. There was three sent to the city and the boys are all better. I feel well and in good spirits.January 18th—Saturday This morning it rains and is very muddy. I am still in the hospital and my health is good, thanks be to God for his mercy and goodness to me. I can still put my trust in thee.January 19th—Sabbath morning. It is still wet and muddy. Up at seven and then got breakfast. Went into the hospital to see the boys. Wrote a letter to my wife. Then took dinner and went to the hospital. Nothing of interest. The men are all better.January 20th—Monday. It is still wet and muddy. I feel pretty well this morning and the boys are all doing as well as can be expected. Walker came to see me today and he looks well and hearty.January 21st—Tuesday. This day do not feel very [well]. I have a sore neck and I am very chilly and cold but hope.January 22nd—Wednesday Not any better but worse. I rubbed it with volatile ligament & still it is sore and my head aches and I feel very drowsy. Took some pills and went to bed.January 23rd—Thursday morning. I am some better and hope that I will not be sick. Able to take my turn in the hospital again this afternoon and got along very well.January 24th—Friday. I am well this morning and able for duty and my neck is better and I hope now that I am not going to have a sick spell, thanks be to God for His loving kindness and tender mercy to me notwithstanding my sins and shortcomings January 25th—Saturday It sleeted and froze all night. This morning the ice and snow is about two inches deep. I am well and in the hospital. It is a pretty good place now for the sick now is quite comfortable. I got a letter today from my wife and a present of small piece of tobacco in it. I think the cost overrun the profit.January 26th—Sabbath. Still at the hospital and we have more quiet times than at the quarters but still it is bad enough and it is hard to spend God’s Hole Day in such a place but still God is here as well as at home.January 27th—Monday. It is warm and pleasant this morning. Still in the hospital and the most of the boys are doing well. Our pay has not come yet but the payroll is here for us to sign.January 28th—Tuesday morning. It is raining and it is warm, just about like our March in Mercer county. I signed the payroll this morning but we did not get our pay today. I am well. It is near twelve at night on duty in the hospital January 29th—Wednesday It is foggy and a mist falls this morning but it is warm. I am well and at the hospital. We got our pay today. Mine was $32.50 and it was very acceptable. Nine o’clock at night. On duty in the hospital and I think a great deal about home and my wife and children. Wonder how they are getting along but do not repine.January 30th—Thursday morning. It is raining and very muddy. Went down to the quarters and heard that Lieutenant Cummings had fifty dollars stolen last night. I am well and able for my duty. I feel thankful for mercies past and willing to trust the same hand for time to come.January 31st—Friday. This morning is more pleasant and I am in good health and spirits. Yesterday bought a watch for ten dollars. I am in the hospital and the boys are all doing well and it’s a good place and it is the place I believe for me where I can do the most good and I have the good will of all concerned—the doctors as well as men. I praise God that He has kept me thus far without sickness or pain of any kind. I have slept in the hospital for some nights past. Ten at night and still on duty.February 1st—Saturday. The snow is about two inches deep but it is raining and the snow is melting fast. I am well and able for my rations. There was one of our company died yesterday in the City Hospital. He was about 60 years of age. Eight at night [and still] on duty and I still have reason to be thankful February 2nd—Sabbath morning. It is clear and beautiful. I thank God for his goodness and mercy to me through the week that is past and for the health that I enjoy at this time. I am in the same place yet. There is some curious case in th hospital but it takes all kinds of people to make a world. I spend my Sabbaths somehow but I can hardly tell how. We are doing nothing yet and it is so muddy that we cannot move or drill or do anything else. The most of the boys that are in my ward have had the mumps and taken cold. Mr. J. C. Brown was here today and I sent fifty dollars home to be deposited with Achse and Wick till I want to lift it.February 3rd—Monday. It is snowing and it looks like winter. It snowed all day but the snow is only about three inches deep at night. There is nothing new in camp today. I am still in good health. It makes me think of home to see the snow. It makes me think about how my wife and children are getting along. I am in the hospital yet and I am glad that I have so good a place.February 4th—Tuesday morning. It is clear and cool. Went down to the quarters and seem the company. Came back and wrote a letter to Walker and then eat dinner. In my ward again on duty and the boys are doing well.February 5th—Wednesday This is a clear morning and is pleasant for the time of year and was warm and pleasant all day. Nothing new today. I am well and on duty at the same place. I think that I will stay here as long as I can be useful.February 6th—Thursday. This morning it is rainy and the snow is going away as fast as it can. Nine at night. I have just wrote a letter to Nancy Walker and I am on duty in the hospital. I have got so used to it that I do not get sleepy till about twelve o’clock February 7th—Friday. A fair day and I was down to the quarters and the boys are all well. The boys in the hospital are all getting along first rate. I wrote a letter to D. E. W. tonight and one today to Nancy Walker. I am well. Nothing new.February 8th—Saturday. I am in good health, thanks to the giver of every good for health and every blessing that I enjoy. I am still with the hospital doing all that I can for the comfort of the sick. There is nothing of much importance going on at present. It is clear and warm today. I would like to be at home and spend the Sabbath with my family and enjoy one sweet day of rest.February 9th—Sabbath. It is clear and pleasant this morning. I am in my usual health and still at the hospital yet and there is one discharged every day and about as many come as go. Noon in the hospital on duty. We have prayer here everyday by the chaplain, Mr. McAdam. He is a good man, I believe, and he labors hard for him but there is no Sabbath here or at least it looks like it. Men are at work chopping wood and teams hauling and companies out in full uniform with knapsacks on their back and guns on their shoulders for inspection. But still we have some time to think of God and his goodness [Editor’s note: The following three paragraphs in bold font are the only entries in the diary written in ink and they are written on pages out of chronological order with the rest of the diary. They were clearly written on Sunday, 9 February 1862, however, and I have inserted them here. These paragraphs are intended for his wife and I believe he must have mailed this diary home to her for safekeeping in mid-February when the diary entries stop.]Sabbath night at ten o’clock. I am well and in the hospital on duty as a nurse and I think that Providence has opened up this place for me and I shall never shrink from any duty that I am called to perform if it falls in my power to do it. Before I came to the hospital our boys thought that it was certain death to go there but I am glad to say that there has not one died there since I went and there has been about fifty in there since I went there. Everything depends on good nursing and we have got good nurses in there now and the surgeon says that he is going to keep them.We have prayers in the hospital every day by the chaplain so that we have some religious exercises but you would think that we were not much better than [ ] of heathen if you saw all that transpires here but still if we wish we can have some enjoyment. As long as I tented with my company, we had prayers in our tent every night and it is still kept up. We have some good men in our regiment adn there is some bad ones. We have got along very well so far. We have the name of being the quietest regiment that has been quartered in the District since the war commenced.I have been scribbling some here and if you can read it, you can do more than I can. And I suppose that you will be tired of it before you get it read but if you do not think it worth reading, you can turn over to something better if you can find it and it is all about alike. I can talk a great deal better than write. You must excuse me for I write on my knee and am sleepy and nursing at the same time. — S. B. BeatyFebruary 10th—Monday morning. It is clear and frosty. Up at six and eat breakfast and went down to the quarters. They are going to have regimental drill—the first for a month, it has been so muddy. But it has dried up and it looks like April . It looks as if the winter was over. I am well and able for duty. I sold my watch for eleven dollars. The men are all doing well.February 11th—Tuesday. It is cloudy this morning. There is nothing of interest here—only the drill and we are going to draw our new knapsacks and clothes. I am still in the hospital. I am well and I got a letter from J. A. Beaty today and it is snowing tonight but it is waning. I got a letter from Walker last night and he was well. The boys here are doing fine.February 12th—Wednesday It is clear and warm today. Returned my old knapsack and got a new one. I am well and doing as well as I can. It looks like spring.February 13th—Thursday This morning got a letter from William Lundy. The spring birds are singing and everything looks like as if winter was over. I am still in the hospital. Our camp is quite dry today. I am losing all my drill by being in the hospital but it may be best.February 14th—Friday. It rained a little this morning and was cloudy all day and got cold towards evening. It was clear tonight. I am in my usual health. I am still at the same place and the health of the regiment is improving. We have a woman here as a cook now but it is not much of an improvement for it is still bread and meat and coffee or meat and coffee and bread. I think I shall never want any more coffee after I get home for I am so tired of it. Nothing new in camp today.February 15th—Tuesday. It is snowing this morning and it looks as if it was going to be quite a snow. I am well at this time. We are still lying idle as a regiment and I do not think ever will do much. Then at night. I heard sleigh bells for the first time this evening. At ten we got orders this evening to cross the Potomac and report to General [Samuel P.] Heintzelman’s Headquarters near Alexandria February 16th—Sabbath morning. It is clear and pleasant and the snow is melting fast. At noon it is quite soft. It is about like some of our March snows in Mercer county.Diary # 2S. B. Beatty’s Memorandum Book. If I should be killed or die of disease, you would confer a great favor by sending this by mail to Mrs. M. S. Beatty, Delaware Grove, Mercer county, Pennsylvania January 7, nursing in the hospital February 18, 1862—Left camp Merced today for the other side of the Potomac and it being very muddy and we had a hards march but got along very well, all but some that got drunk. We got our tents up by dark and slept in them and the mud was two inches deep in them.Wednesday, February 19th—We were all day carrying brush and fixing up our hospital and it was still muddy and sad but we done the best we could but we had but few in it.Thursday, February 20th—Nothing of interest today. I am well and saw Daniel Young today.Friday, February 21st—It is still wet and muddy.Saturday, 22nd—-The birthday of Washington and we can hear the booming of cannon all around commemorating the day. Nothing of interest Sabbath 23rd—This is the first that I have spent on the sacred soil of Virginia and it was wet and muddy as usual and there was nothing done.Monday, 24th—It was clear in the morning till about ten o’clock and then there was a shower of rain and the wind rose and it sleeted and it blew a hurricane and blew down all the tents in the regiment and one of our hospital tents and it looked like desolation Tuesday February 25th—It does not blow so hard this morning and we made ready to put our tent and we got it up. I am still well and in good spirits Wednesday February 26th—Got case of varioloid [small pox] in the hospital but I will not run from it but will do my duty and trust my God [that] all shall be well. Nothing else of interest Thursday February 27th—Very busy preparing for inspection. Feel tired but that is nothing new.Friday, February 28th—The day of inspection. Fixed upon it and got everything ready but they did not come to the hospital at all. Feel all right today, thanks to God for his mercy to me.Saturday, March 1st [1862]—In the hospital. There was regimental drill today, the seventh time since we left Camp Curtin. In the evening, General Jamison put them through a while and scared our officers and got [ ] up some but they soon got their wits again and then they were all right again. The colonel [William Maxwell] resigned today and left the command Sabbath March 2nd—The Colonel started home this morning and was quite a touching sight to see him bid goodbye to the boys. Got dinner and then went down to the 63rd to see the boys and it snowed like fury for a while. Came back to the regiment, went to prayer meeting, and then came back to the hospital. I feel well in my mind and of course in body.Monday, March 3rd—The snow is soft with a crust on it and it is foggy and dark. It rained this afternoon. There was regimental drill today and there is a great wonder who will be our Colonel. Nothing else of interest. I am still well. Got vaccinated on Sunday and my arm is some sore and it makes me think of my family at hoe. God has been very gracious to me this day in upholding and comforting me and in drawing me near to Himself. Oh that I may be enabled always to trust Him and take Him for my [ ].Tuesday, March 4th—It is clear this morning. Our patients are all better in the hospital. Regimental drill this forenoon. Nothing else of interest today. I am well. My arm’s quite sore today. It makes me almost sick.Wednesday, March 5th—It is clear this morning and cold. It clouded up about noon. I am well today. There was a Captain [Charles W.] Chapman of the 63rd Regt. shot on picket this morning. Nothing else of interest.“A detachment of the regiment consisting of one hundred men, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Morgan, while out upon the picket line beyond the Occoquan, near Pohick Church, on the night of the 5th of March, 1862, was attacked by a party of the enemy. A skirmish ensued in the midst of the darkness, in which Captain Charles W. Chapman, of company K, and Quartermaster James M. Lysle, were killed.” [63rd Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers]Thursday March 6th—It is a fine day and it looks like spring. Our new Colonel came on today. His name is [Charles Thomas] Campbell, Regimental drill as usual.Friday, March 7th—It is clear but cold and windy. Nothing of interest Saturday March 8th—Clear and fine this morning and I think of going to Mount Vernon today and I went and saw what was to be seen. This is a barren and desolate looking country. The fences are all out of repair and the land looks poor. The houses are old and small and the barns are miserable. It looks as if there was a curse upon it but it might be a fine country. Mt. Vernon is a fine looking farm but it looks neglected and forlorn. I saw the tomb of Washington and Martha, his wife, and several of his family relations and the old mansion and some trees that he planted and the old garden and the fountain and everything that was to be seen. Came back and feel tired but don’t begrudge my tired legs for it was worth all and more too.Sabbath morning, March 9th—warm and pleasant looking Like spring. There is a general inspection this morning. I am well today. I have been mercifully preserved thus far amidst all the hardships of camp life. I have not been one day sick thanks be to God for his goodness to me and I am still encouraged to put my trust in Him for time to come.Monday, March 10th—It is raining this morning and it was most of the day. We drew oil cloth blankets for tents when we march. The Division on the right of us moved today and we expect to move tomorrow. Nothing else of interest Tuesday March 11th—It looks like spring. There is some excitement today about movement but i guess we will not move today, The day passed and we are here yet.Wednesday, March 12th—It is clear and fine this day. There is review today and I went to the Potomac River and it is a noble looking stream. I am well today and in good spirits. There is a report that our army has possession of Manassas Thursday March 13th—It is clear and war and it looks like spring. The spring birds are singing and the leaves are beginning to start on the elders and briers and the grass.Friday, March 14th—Last night got orders to prepare immediately for a march and today we were all ready for a move but we were not commanded to march and we are here yet.Saturday, March 15th—There is quite an excitement in camp today about where we are to go but we know nothing about it. But we are to go on steamers down the Potomac somewhere. I am well and in good spirits. We had a very wet day.Sabbath morning, March 16th—Well and in good spirits. It is fair this morning and there is nothing of much interest. There is still troops coming in for to go down the river. We had preaching today.Monday, March 17th—we marched to Alexandria and went aboard the Elm City—a large and good boat, the best that is here, and where we are going, I do not know.Tuesday, March 18th—We are here on the Potomac and when we will leave this, none of us knows. It is just one month today since we crossed the Potomac. I am well as usual. We started down the river about noon. There was nothing of interest until sunset and it was a grand sight to me.Wednesday, March 19th—A beautiful morning. We are in the Chesapeake Bay and it is so broad that I cannot see land—only on one side, and it looks fine to see so many sails on the water. We landed at Fortress Monroe about sunset and loaded our goods on a horse car, moved them from the wharf and then unloaded them in the middle of the street and I slept for the first time in the street and it rained all the night and the water ran all around Thursday March 20th—Morning, it is still raining and I had to help load the regiment’s stuff and the hospital stuff and then went to hunt the regiment and it was quite a job. After a while, found them quartered in a stable.Friday, March 21st—Slept in a stable last night for the first time and I did not sleep much. We are just beginning to be soldiers. I am still well and i desire to be thankful for mercies past and the blessing that I now enjoy. The regiment moved their quarters and tented out in the open field in their dog tents and it rained in the evening and I stayed and guarded the stuff.Saturday, March 22nd—Still on guard till noon and then went to the regiment and then got some dinner. Our quartermaster is a poor excuse. I am well and in good spirits Sabbath March 25th—It is a beautiful morning and is as still as if there was but one regiment here but I believe there is about thirty thousand here and more coming. Nothing of interest till evening. Then it rained. It is quite cold at night.Monday, March 24th—We got orders this morning to be ready to move again at seven o’clock. The regiment started at eight and we did not get off till about twelve. We went about two miles and pitched our tents. We went through the old town of Hampton that the Rebels burnt last summer. It has been a nice place but it is all burnt. We are about four miles from Fortress Monroe.Tuesday, March 25th—It is clear and the wind feels cold. I am well as usual. Nothing of interest Wednesday March 26th—It is cloudy this morning and it spit snow this afternoon. I am well and I got a letter from my wife and it was a comfort to me.Thursday, March 27th—It was clear again this morning and it looks like summer. There is nothing of interest. I am well, thanks to God for His goodness to me.Friday, March 28th—It is clear and beautiful this morning. I washed some this forenoon and I am in the hospital. I am well and in good spirits. Nothing else but the usual montage of duty.Saturday, 29th March—The wind is in the east and it’s cold and chilly this afternoon. It is raining and sleeting. It is hard to see the soldiers camped in these small tents when it is cold and disagreeable, Got a letter from A. Walker today.Sabbath morning, March 30th—It rained all night and when I woke up this morning, I was lying in the water about two inches deep but I am still well. There seems to be no regard for the Sabbath here. While I write, the boys are playing ball and some are building fire places and walling up the front of their tents and some are at prayer meeting and some are lying in their tents.Monday, March 31st—It is clear and fine this morning. It is as warm as summer today and it makes me feel lazy but I am alright. I am still in the hospital but do not know how long I am going to stay but will know by tomorrow. It is two at night and I am on duty in the hospital Tuesday 1 April—It is clearcut not as warm as it was yesterday. I am going to stay awhile longer in the hospital. I am well but feel sleepy and tired. Went to bed at six.Wednesday, 2nd April—Up at twelve and I did not sleep more than two hours last night and I feel kind of used up but I am in good health Thursday 3rd April—Morning on duty in the hospital. I feel almost used up for the want of sleep but I am in good health. There is eleven in the hospital today but there is none of them dangerous. This is a beautiful day. We had a thunder shower last night and it started the grass to grow and it looks quite refreshing Friday 4th April—We have marching orders this morning to march on Yorktown. We started at seven and marched to Great Bethel and the Rebels lead left just before we got there and I was very much disappointed in the place. There is but one house beside the Meeting House and the fortifications are but very slight. There is nothing but mud works and we went on about two miles and encamped for the night and slept under the wagon. Slept very well and feel well this morning Saturday 5th April—I am well this morning. Our men started for Yorktown and I saw General McClellan this morning for the first time and he is a very plain looking man but is bold as a lion. It is a bad day for a march. It is raining but I am with the train and we can hear the sound of the cannon ahead of us towards Yorktown as if there was a skirmish. It is twelve and we have not started yet. This evening it cleared up and we have not started with the train yet.Sabbath morning, 6th April—It is clear and fine. We are here yet and the regiment is some six or eight miles ahead. Our train started at 6:30 o’clock for the camp. This is a very sandy country and there is more timber than in Mercer county and more swamp. We came to the place about noon that the skirmish was yesterday but do not know any of the particulars, We are beginning to soldier it now. It does not seem much like the Sabbath. We had very bad roads part of the way. Got to the camp about sunset and found all safe and sound, The Rebels threw some shells into our camp and killed a few of the artillery horses.Monday, 7th April—Don’t feel very well today and took some medicine. Got our hospital in big. There is nothing of interest in camp today worthy of note.Tuesday, 8th April—I am still unwell but am able to attend to my duty. I am very bilious but hope to be all right soon. It is a very wet day and nothing doing Wednesday 9th April—It is still wet and cold. Got orders this morning to move the hospital and it was a hard job for me and the work all fell on [1st Sergt. Thomas O.] Collamore and I. There was about ten or twelve in and they were moved out about one and a half miles and there was no provision made for them and we had no hands to put up our tents and we had to depend on the charity of our neighbors for their night’s lodging but we got along some way. I feel some better now.Thursday, 10th April—It is cold and spitting snow a little. We are here beside a Meeting House and there has been a Rebel camp here and there is several of their soldiers buried in the graveyard. It is a very flat and wet [place] and I should think unhealthy, I am some better today but do not feel right yet.Friday, 11th April—It is clear and fine this morning and it is quite refreshing. I am some better today and the boys are all doing well. Our regiment had a skirmish today with the enemy and there was three of them wounded and they killed about fifty or sixty of the Rebels Saturday 12th April—It is still clear and pleasant. All is quiet in camp as if nothing had happened. I am still able for duty. There is nothing of interest thus far.Sabbath morning, 13th April—It is clear and it makes me think of home that I left and my wife and children and a wish to be with those to spend if but one day with them and enjoy one Sabbath at home. All is quiet this morning. Nothing of interest. Our regiment went out on picket this evening.Monday, 14th April—Still clear. I am as well as common. All is quiet. Our pickets brought in one prisoner this morning. Nothing else of interest Tuesday 15th April—Cloudy this morning. I am well and feel thankful for my returning health. Our men are in god spirits. It is clear this afternoon. All is quiet except some shells flying back and forth from one camp to the other. Nothing else of interest Wednesday 16th April—It is clear and fine today, It is very warm. I am well and in good spirits. There is some cannonading today. There is no stir in camp. Nothing of moment today.Thursday, 17th April—It is very warm today, Our men are throwing some shot and shell today at the enemy. Our regiment is out on picket today. We moved our hospital again today. This evening there was the first of our regiment killed by the bursting of a shell. Nothing else of interest. Frederick Varick [of Co. G was killed].Friday, 18th April—It is clear and would be pleasant if I was at home. It is just one month since we left Alexandria and not much done yet. Our men are besieging Yorktown Saturday 19th April—It is cloudy this morning but pleasant. There is not much a doing. It is raining a little this afternoon. There was a ball threw over our camp. Nothing else of note.Sabbath, 20th April—It is raining and cold and all is quiet except an occasional cannon shot, I am well. Nothing else of note.Monday, 21st April—It is raining this morning. I am well. Got a letter from my wife and wrote one to her, All is quiet. Nothing else of interest Tuesday 22nd April—It is clear and beautiful. I am in good health and spirits. There is no fighting today. The soil here is good but it is wet and marshy Wednesday 23rd April—It is still clear and pleasant. All is quiet as if there was no army here. I am as usual. It is a beautiful place here in the woods. Nothing else of interest Thursday 24th April—It is clear and cold this morning. I am well. Drew new pants today. Was down at the regiment today. All is quiet.Friday, 25th April—It is cloudy and cold and chilly. I am well this morning. All is quiet in camp.Saturday, 26th April—Is wet and cold. There was a small skirmish this morning and our men took twenty prisoners. Our regiment was called out but was too late. It was wet all day and there was nothing of interest Sabbath 27th April—It is still cold and cloudy. I am well and hope that I may have good health.Monday, 28th April—It is cloudy this morning. At noon it cleared up and it is pleasant. There is nothing of interest in camp today.Tuesday, 29th April—It is foggy and dark this morning. Cleared away about ten. Our regiment moved their camp today Wednesday 30th April—It is cloudy this morning. All is quiet as usual. I am well at present. Our regiment on picket. Nothing else.Thursday, 1st May—It’s warm and foggy. Still in the hospital. I am in good health. Went over to the regiment and was mustered for pay. There is four months pay due us now. All is quiet. The siege is still progressing but silently Friday 2nd May—It is clear and warm. The Rebels are throwing shot and shell quite rapid today. Our men don’t answer them but work away. I am well.Saturday, 3rd May—There is nothing of much interest yet today, The Rebels are throwing shells pretty rapid this evening and some think they are leaving.Sabbath morning, 4th May—The Rebels have evacuated Yorktown and our men are on the march to take possession. I am well and in good spirits. Henry Eberman died last night in the Church Hospital and was buried today. We got orders to march about 2. Yorktown is very strongly fortified and I think they missed it by leaving. It does not seem much like the Sabbath to me, one the quiet days at home.Monday, 5th May—It rained last night and it still rains today. Our Brigade stands to pressure the Rebels this morning and we soon heard firing and it was kept up all day. We do not know the result. The roads are very bad and the road was full of teams all day. Our teams went about two miles. it still rains.Tuesday, 6th May—morning is clear and there is still more troops coming. Soldiering is hard business. We have different reports about the fight yesterday. our regiment was not in the engagement. We are stopped for the night. I wish we were with them.Wednesday, 7th May—Is clear and fine. We are about four miles from Williamsburg and no prospect of us getting on today. Some of our army went back to Yorktown this afternoon. Our team stayed. I stayed to guard the balance of the stuff. It is a beautiful day and I would like to be with the regiment Thursday 8th May—It is clear and pleasant. Our teams are here and I am going on to the regiment and I am glad of it. There is very bad roads. We went past the battle ground and it was a strong position. Our men could have held it against one hundred thousand of the best troops but it was a hard fought battle. It is a fine country around Williamsburg Friday 9th May—It is clear and pleasant. We are under marching orders. We started at ten from Williamsburg for some place up river. We saw plenty of rebel clothes thrown away in their flight from us. This is an old town, It was settled long before the Revolution. I saw wheat out in head today. We were all day going six miles. Camped for the night in the road, Went o bed at 12.Saturday, 10th May—Up at daylight making ready for a march. It does not seem much like the days at home for there is a train of wagons on the move ten miles long. After going four miles through a dense forest of pine to an improvement and it is the best I have seen in Virginia. The road is bad. I am well and wish I was at home to spend the day with my family but I must be contented and act the soldier. I spent last night in the middle of the road and slept very ell. Got to the regiment at sundown Sabbath 11th May—It is clear and warm. Are making ready for a march. I am well and it does not seem much like the day of rest. It is hard to spend the day in the army for there is so much noise and confusion Monday 12th May—Is still clear and beautiful. We are camped on the road forty miles from Richmond. I am well. Got a letter from my wife today. I was glad to hear from home and wish I was ready to go there but that is out of the question Tuesday 13th May—Clear and fine. Up at five. Slept under the wagon. Got orders to be ready to march at ten. All ready. This is a beautiful place. Started at the hour. It is slow traveling in the army. Saw corn four inches high. Marched about one mile and camped for the night and got two months pay.Wednesday, 14th May—Up at three. Started to march at four. Saw an orchard in the woods and several places where whole farms were overgrown with timbers of quite large trees. This wound be a fine country if it was not for slavery. Marched seven miles, then camped adn pitched our tents and stayed there all night.Thursday, 15th May—Is raining this morning. Got orders to march at six. Our train went half a mile and I stood about three hours. Saw more land that has been farmed overgrown with timber. Stopped for the night at Cumberland Landing and it is a very nice place. If it was in the North, there would have been quite a town. I am well but partly wet.Friday, 16th May—It is cloudy but not wet. I am well as usual. Nothing of interest today in camp. I saw some steam adn sailing vessels today. Sent home twenty-five dollars to my wife by Adams Express. Sent it to J. K. Hamblin Saturday 17th May—It is clear and warm. Washed some today. Sent off all the sick today in a boat. I am in good health. Nothing else.Sabbath, 18th May—Up at five. I am well as usual. It is the quietest Sabbath we have had for some time. There is nothing else of interest Monday 19th May—Our Brigade left—all but our regiment and we stayed to guard the Landing. The name is Cumberland on the Pamunkey River—the south branch of the York river—and it is about 70 miles from the bay and the tide rises at least two feet.Encampment of Army of Potomac at Cumberland Landing on Pamunkey River, May 1862Tuesday, 20th May—We are still here. I am not well today but think I soon will be. It is warm and dry.Wednesday, 21st May—It is clear and warm. I am some better today. We are still at the landing and I do not know how long we will stay here. Commenced to write a letter to my wife today. The Locust trees are white with blossom. All is quiet and nothing of interest Thursday 22nd May—Morning is clear and there is a fine breeze. It is quite refreshing. Wrote to my wife today. I am well and in good spirits and I am thankful Friday 23rd May—Got orders to march at six. All ready and on the march. Went eight miles and pitched our tents and got dinner and then got orders to pull up and be off again all on the march and it is slow going. I saw roses today for the first I have seen. Ten at night. We are still on the road as good boys working for Uncle Sam. Came through a fine country but it is like all the rest of with slavery. Fields overgrown with bushes and briers Saturday 24th May—Up at five. Slept by the side of the road. Slept about three hours, Feel all right. it is pleasant. We are ready for a move. Got to the Brigade at nine o’clock. At ten it commenced raining till evening.Sabbath morning, 25th May—Up at five. I am well, thanks be to god for His mercies to me. Got orders to march. Started at 7 o’clock towards Richmond. Crossed the Chickahominy and camped within 12 miles of Richmond for the night. All is quiet. the same curse rests on the country now. Within ten or twelve miles of the Capitol and it looks like the vineyard of the sluggard Monday 26th May—It is clear and cold for the place. I am well. Got orders to send everything back but the shelter tents and one blanket. I went back with the doctors things across the Chickahominy Tuesday 27th May—It is raining. The teams went back for the rest of the stuff. I am well and would like o be with the regiment. There is about one thousand wagons in sight of this place. There is some cannonading on our right this afternoon. Our regiment is on picket Wednesday 28th May—It is clear and fine. I am still guarding the doctor’s goods four miles in the rear of the regiment. I am well. Wishing the war was over that I could go home to my family. I long very much to see them.Thursday, 29th May—It is clear. I am still guarding. It is very lonesome away from the regiment. I wish I was relieved so that I could go forward to the boys. I am well. Butter is selling at 40 cents and cheese at 35 and eggs at 40 per dozen. Small round ginger cakes 2 cents apiece adn everything else in proportion Friday 30th May—It is cloudy this morning. I am still on the north side of the Chickahominy guarding the doctor’s traps. I am well as usual. Our Brigade moved back two miles and took up position on the railroad to guard it.Saturday, 31st May—It rained last night and there was thunder and lightning. All is quiet. Still in the same place. I am well. It is very warm. There is a battle going on in front. it has lasted all afternoon. Our Brigade is called out. there is conflicting reports about the fight.Sabbath morning, 1st June—It is cloudy and misting rain. The fight has commenced again. It is 5:15 o’clock and it was a hard fight for 5 or 6 hours but our men drove them back. Our army were attacked both days and they fought bravely doing honor to themselves and their country. There was several of our regiment killed and some wounded on Saturday. Today no particulars Monday 2nd June—I am still in the same place. Moved back about sixty rods to get better ground. There is quite a number of our men in. The most of them are wounded in the hand. The river has risen by some means not known to us about two feet so that it is hard for the wagons to cross. All quiet but the water is still up. Nothing else.Tuesday, 3rd June—I am well and in good spirits. We had a thunder shower last night. It is very warm this morning. We are still away from the regiment guarding the medicine and other hospital stuff. Crossed the Chickahominy and I went to the regiment and slept out in the open air and it rained all night Wednesday 4th June—It is still raining and there is many of our men that have neither blankets nor tents and it seems hard to haven exposed without shelters of any kind. I am well.Thursday, 5th June—It is still cloudy and cool. there is not much of interest—only that our men are still fetching in the wounded rebels and it is a horrid sight to see men that have lay on the field wounded for four days all fly blown. But war is cruel.Friday, 6th June—It is cold and chilly and I am very unwell today. All is quiet. Nothing else of interest Saturday 7th June—It is clear this morning. I am still sick. It rained this afternoon. Nothing of much interest in camp today.Sabbath, 8th June—It is clear and nice. I am in the wood away about 1.5 miles from the regiment and it is the quietest Sabbath I have seen for some time. I am still quite unwell. There is nothing else of interest Monday 9th June—I am still sick. We are going to move the hospital up to the regiment. Started to ride in the wagon but I could not stand it. Got there all safe [but] do not feel any better.Tuesday, 10th June—It is raining and is quite cold. I am still under the weather. I am able to walk around. Went over part of the battle field and the balls must have flew thick and fast. I saw little bushes not more than two inches through that had sixteen balls in them.Wednesday, 11th June—It is clear and cold. The Regiment marched back about one mile. All is quiet. i am still not well but think i am some better Thursday 12th June—It is still clear but warm. I am some little better. There was picket firing today. How I wish for the sight of my home and wife and children. I think I would soon recruit up again but it will take me some time hereFriday, 13th June—It is clear and warm. Up at five. Got breakfast and started for the regiment. The Rebels are throwing shells at our men. I am some better but still have that oppression in my left side. I am almost done soldiering Saturday 14th June—It is very warm today and the water is poor and scarce and the land literally stinks and I cannot help but be unhealthy. i am still better and think that I am going to get well. Went to the regiment for a letter but was disappointed again. Did not get any.Sabbath, 15th June—It is clear and warm this morning. It makes the sweat run free. I am still at the hospital. There is about fifty under the doctor’s care. I am about well now. This is a quiet day. One of the quietest I have spent in the service.Monday, 16th June—It is clear and cold this morning. I feel quite well, thanks be to God for continual blessings. All is quiet today.Tuesday, 17th June—It is clear and cold. Up at sunrise. Feel well. I am at the hospital. There is some heavy cannonading on the James River. there is nothing else.Wednesday, 18th June—It is clear and warm. I am well and able for duty. Wrote a letter to my beloved wife today. There is seventy here under the doctor’s care at this time. All is quiet.Thursday, 19th June—All is quiet. I am well today, thanks to the Giver of every good for HIs goodness to me.Friday, 20th June—It is still clear. There is nothing new. The same monotonous life. Oh how I wish I was at home with my family. I am about satisfied with a soldier’s life. It is not the life for me.Saturday, 21st June—Clear and warm. All is quiet. I am well. Wrote to my wife. There is nothing of interest today.Sabbath, 22nd June—It is still clear and warm. This is the quietest Sabbath I have spent for a long time. There is no stir of any kind. I am well and think I feel truly thankful to God for His goodness and mercy to me. This evening there was a small skirmish on which the Rebels lost about seven hundred in killed, wounded and prisoners and our men lost in all forty.Monday, 23rd June—It is warm and beautiful. All is quiet. I am well and able for duty. It rained this evening and there is some picket firing this evening. Nothing else.Tuesday, 24th June—It is clear but it looks like rain. I am still well and at the hospital we have 92 men here but they are all doing well except three and I think they will get well. There is nothing of interest Wednesday 25th June—It’s clear and pleasant this morning. There was an advance of our army today and there was quite a hard figh

1862-65 Handwritten Civil War Soldier's Diary Indiana Reg Castle Thunder Prison
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WELCOME TO SALLY’S DIARIES: Before I get started describing this piece, I want to let you know that I have a podcast. I’ve taken some diaries from my private collection and shared them on our podcast called “Diary Discoveries.” We’ve got 48 episodes out now and you can find it on all the usual podcast venues. So if you enjoy the compelling and adventurous stories from vintage diaries then please check it out. Plus, I was asked to do a TEDx talk in Vienna about this very thing, collecting diaries, and if you are interested in this sort of thing just put into the search engines “10,000 diaries” and you should come up with it. It was a privileged and blessing to be able to share what I’ve learned in the last 36 years. And with all that said…… Up for auction today is one of the most extensive handwritten civil war diaries I’ve seen. It also came with original photos of the author and other people that I have yet to find out who they are. Please note, the photos you see above of the Rebel Prison Castle Thunder and then the author during his older years in his GAR uniform are copies, the other photos are original. I’ve had this particular diary in my collection for years now and feel it’s time to part with it. As mentioned above we have a podcast and we did use this particular diary in one of the episodes, #48, titled “Castle Thunder Prison Survivor – A Civil War Story.” So you can really get an idea of what this diary is all about on that podcast. I will try and share a bit of it here but there is way too much to this diary to do it justice in my description. The first thing I need to say about this diary is that I believe our author had another diary or perhaps just notebooks or pieces of paper that he carried with him and used during his time in the Civil War and then transcribed all of his entries into this diary after the war was over. I don’t think he had it with him as the hand writing seems continuous (if that makes sense). But I could be wrong about that and it could have been with him the whole time. He’s definitely not doing it from memory because the entries are like he’s right there when every thing is happening. But the second part of the diary, when he heads west, is like he picked up his diary once again and decided to write in the back all about his journey west as it was happening. Again, hope I’m making sense. Not only does this diary cover all three years our author fought in the Civil War (including travel through 8 different states during that time), the part that the podcast did not cover (and has not been shared anywhere) are the diary entries when our author decided to head West to the great state of Idaho in 1882 and spend the rest of his life there. So you actually get two very different yet very historical and monumental experiences in the life of our author. The diary contains 122 handwritten pages and 106 of those are about his time in the Civil War, the rest have to do with his trip West. The authors name was Gillis James McBane and he was born on December 30th, 1829 in Logansport Indiana. He claims he was the 1st white child born in Logansport. His father was Gillis McBane Sr. who was born in Scotland and came to America when just a little boy. Gillis Sr. married Elizabeth Kintner in 1921. They had 7 children, Gillis Jr. of course being one of them. His father was an Indian Agent and also owned a hotel there in Logansport. His mother died before he was 10 years old and then his father died when Gillis Jr. turned 10. He worked and lived on different peoples farms and then with his brother’s family while growing up. On July 2nd, 1862 Gillis enlisted with the 73rd Indianapolis Volunteer Infantry Regiment. I actually found a book written about the Regiment and will also include that with this auction. Gillis fought in numerous battles and writes about them all, some of which were The Battles of Stones River, Decatur, Perryville, Athens and more. Perhaps the most incredible thing when it comes to his life in the Civil war was the fact that he was taken prisoner from December 31st, 1862 while fighting in the battle of Stones River. He is taken to Richmond Virginia in box cars (terrible conditions while on the cars and traveling to Richmond) and put in one of the most notorious Rebel prisons called Castle Thunder. He is in the prison until February 3rd, 1863. When released he is taken to a Parole Camp in Annapolis Maryland and is there from February 6th to December 7th, 1863. While there he shares his experiences and talks about so many things including the 3,000 prisoners who arrive from Gettysburg. He’s a carpenter and chief cook at the camp. He starts his journey to meet up with his regiment on December 8th 1863, and finally meets back up with them on Christmas Eve, 1863, almost a year to the day of being captured. He’s taken sick and put in the hospital from May 20th, 1864 to March 6th, 1864. He sees a lot more action with his regiment and of course writes all about it. He receives a promotion to Sgt./Major January 16th, 1865. Finally the with the war coming to a close, Gillis arrives back home March 22nd, 1865, which means he’s been away from his home from August 31st, 1862 to March 22nd, 1865. On April 5th and 6th, 1865, he mentions downfall of Richmond and hearing that must have been quite the moment for Gillis after spending time in prison there. He heads to Indianapolis on April 15th, 1865 and talks about Lincoln’s assassination. This portion of the diary, this part of his incredible life, ends September 30th, 1865. Again, this is perhaps one of the most extensive Civil War (or really any) diaries I’ve read. He talks of constant marching, day and night, sheer exhaustion much of the time, staying in pre-occupied Rebel camps, bullets flying over his head, poor food rations such as only having crackers, raw bacon and coffee, the constant sound of cannonading, using the creeks and rivers for bathing and for drinking water, the dead and dying all over the battlefields, seeing shot up houses and buildings while passing through towns, men getting brain fever and other diseases, the battles themselves, etc. All of this and so much more fills the pages of Gillis’s diary. And this is BEFORE he gets captured! Then there’s his trips on the cattle cars which were so crowded with prisoners he had to stand most of the time. They also went without food much of the time not only on the way to the prison but during his time in the prison as well. His description of Richmond, the Rebel Capital is incredible as is his description of being in Castle Thunder Prison. And the news of all the different battles, not just the ones he is in but the great battles of the Civil War itself makes this diary (and his life) so very interesting. I could go on and on. Finally there’s the trip west. He boards a train, leaving Logansport Indiana on June 21st, 1882. He also takes ferry’s and steamers on this trip until he finally arrives in Walla Walla Washington on July 11th, 1882 and this is where this portion of the diary ends. Gillis spent the winter in Walla Walla and then in the spring moves to Moscow Idaho. He took a piece of land on Potlach Creek and lived there in Moscow the rest of his life until he passed away in 1914. I want to share a few example entries but it’s only the tip of the iceberg and I will also share a few entries from his trip west. And please note, these are only partial excerpts that I’ve picked out. I’ve left out so much because it would make this description way too long (as it already is). In fact, I did type up the entire diary (just the Civil War part) and it was 30 pages of typed script. (I am keeping my typed up manuscripts). He pretty much writes every day in the beginning and then gradually starts skipping days here and there, but really is pretty faithful with his entries. When you see the --------- between the quotes below, know that there are more entries that aren’t shared here. And if you need more examples of his entries let me know and I can get them to you. And with all that said…... 1862 “July 21st, Journal of Camp Life: “I enlisted in the service of the USA in Logansport and got a leave of absence to go out to my work near Monticello.” “Saturday, 26th, Returned to Logansport and home.” “Tuesday 29th, Went to Logan. Stayed all night at D. S. P.” “Wednesday 30th, Took the train 8 A.M. for South Bend. Had a huge time on the cars, some being highly spirited from the excessive use of ardent spirits. Arrived in Camp Rose 10 P.M. We being first squad in camp, found supper ready, drew our blankets and looked for a soft place on the ground to rest our weary limbs.” “Thursday August 2nd, Found the company in various circumstances. Those that were high spirited from the use of Whiskey the day previous was low spirited now.” “Thursday August 21st, The 73rd Regt. left Camp Rose for the land of Dixie and was escorted to the depo by the citizens and left amidst cheers and flags. Arrived at Indianapolis 11 P.M. and ordered to Louisville Ky.” Arrived at Jeffersonville 10 A.M. Laid over until 3 P.M. and crossed the river and marched through the principal streets of Louisville. The dust raised in such clouds that we could hardly distinguished each other. Through the dense fog of dust we could discern the form of many ladies greeting us with cheers. We went into camp one mile south of Louisville.” “Sunday August 31st, At 10 A.M. we arrived at Ky River and rested till 12 m. and found we was in the wrong pew as Curby Smith had crossed the river with 30,000 and was advancing on us and commenced cannonading our retreat. At 2 o’clock P.M. we then seen a heavy fog of dust raising to our left and heading us off and supposing then to be the enemy we formed a line of battle to make a gallant charge but when they arrived it was the Pa cavary (Cavalry) come to our aid. At 4 P.M. commenced raining. Myself, L. Smith, Wm. Jack and E. Powel being unwell stopped for the night in a barn.” (When he talks about Curby Smith I think he means the Confederate General E. Kirby Smith who lead the advance in the Kentucky campaign 1862.) “Friday morn. October 3rd, Up at 4 A.M. After laying all night in the rain and no shelter took up our line of march. At 7 A.M. went through Mt. Washington occupied the day previous by Rebs. Then crossed Salt River on rail bridge as the Rebs burnt the bridge. We went through cornfield and woods.” “Saturday October 4th, We again started for Bardstown 15 miles distant. We went 8 miles in a forward direction then flanked of past Fairfield. We marched very fast and it raining at 4 P.M. The cavalry skirmished in our advance we camped at 9 P.M. in sight Bardstown.” “Sunday October 5th, Got breakfast which consisted of one cracker and raw bacon then went into town. Poor houses captured 100 sick Rebs in hospital and some other prisoners.” “Friday October 10th, As I staid up until midnight night cooking I had battercakes for breakfast. We marched at 6 A.M. Went through the battlefield. The ground was covered with the dead. The hospitals was all full of dead and dying. We then marched in line of battle and heavy firing on our right and left. Went into camp at 2 P.M. Rain all afternoon. Co. “G” went out on picket. I took charge of the outside post of Co. “G”. We built rail pen and covered with fodder. I laid down and tried to sleep, too cool and wet.” “Saturday October 11th, It rained all night. Made coffee. The boys had drank their coffee but me. I had my coat off drying at the fire when Morgan and his men came in yelling and firing upon us like drunken Indians. I had to loose my coffee. We retreated back to camp and formed a line of battle. We opened fire on them with artillery and sent them back with some riders less we moved forward towards Harrodsburg scouting the country as we went taking many prisoners. Got to Harrodsburg at 4 P.M. Laid in town till dark. Moved 1 mile.” “Sunday October 12th, I got up early and had nothing to eat for breakfast. We marched at 9 A.M. Come upon the enemy. Formed line battle and marched all day in that position. We skirmished all day with the musketry and artillery. Our Regt. being in advance, returned back to the division to draw rations at night.” “Friday November 7th, In line and marched at 5 A.M. Chilly weather. Crossed all day the first state line 12 M. Snowed all day. The first house that represented the state of Tennessee had no glass in the windows but a darkey’s head in the place of glass (black glass). Hilly country and poor soil. Cold.” “Saturday November 8th, The brigade moved out at 1 P.M. to surprise the enemy at Gallatin Tenn. Had a slight skirmish. The Rebs fled. We camped three miles south of town on the bank of the C. River.” “Thursday December 4th, With orders to shoulder guns and knapsacks to go on grand review. General Rosecrans was present and told the boys they needed shoes. He wanted us to eat well, sleep well and fight well.” “Thursday December 25th, Christmas morn. In line at 7 A.M. to go foragin. March several miles before we met the enemy’s picket. We drove them several miles before us. Company “G” spent the day skirmishing with the enemy. Some killed and wounded in the 51st Regt. Got back to camp 9 P.M. Order to move at 6 A.M. in morn.” “Friday December 26th, In line and commenced moving toward Murfreesboro. I got two letters, one from S. E. S. and H. M. commenced raining and I no coat or blanket. The enemy made a stand at La Vergne. About 50 of our men left on the field dead. We skirmished all day through the rain and camped 1 ½ miles from La Vergne and no tents but take the rain. We camped 9 P.M. I an orderly Vaness went for an oil cloth to sleep under.” “Saturday December 27th, Wet and cold. The Rebs opened out with artillery. We camped on the yesterday’s battle ground. While I now write, 3 or 4 of the enemy shells pass over my head. We now, 11 A.M., open on them with artillery. Some wounded come to the rear. It rains. Co. “G” and “B” is skirmishers. We now advance. Skirmished all day in the rain and I no coat. Took 40 or 50 prisoners. In evening we pushed the enemy so they lost hats and blankets. I picked up a hat and blanket (Rebs). Go in camp at dusk. Co. “G”, “B”, and “E” goes on picket. Ceased raining and turns cool. The boys go for cotton to sleep on. We are relieved from picket 1 A.M.” “Sunday December 28th, Co. “G”, “B” and “E” goes on picket again and while I note this the roar of musketry is heard all around. I and E. Powell is on one post on the bank of Stewards Creek. We are relieved at 1 P.M. Go back to camp. Co. “G” and the 51st volunteered to cross the river and go into the Rebel camp. The Rebs made their appearance but repout (report?) of reach. We captured wagon load, sabers and guns and went back.” “Monday December 29th, The roar of musketry has commenced. We move our line forward at 5 A.M. The skirmishers are in motion. Co. “G” and “B” is ordered forward again on the skirmish line. Skirmished all day. The balls flew as thick as bees and at dusk we advanced cross the river. Drive the enemy from the timber throng cornfield into wheat field. The flask of guns reminded me of lightening bugs and the Minnie balls, mosquitoes. We held the line till 12 M. night then fell back and recrossed the river. We got in quite a mess with the Rebs. The killed and wounded is not known. We camped on the bank of S. River.” “Tuesday December 30th, Morn at 3 A.M. Rained all night. As soon as day begins to dawn the roar of cannon and musketry commences. Co. “G” and “B” again on the line. A brisk cannonading kept up all day to cover the prisoners. Great many killed. The Rebel shells come over our heads. “Wednesday December 31st, Breakfast over by 4 A.M. Some up all night, too cold to sleep. Cannonading commenced daylight. Spitting snow. The battle commenced at 6 A.M. and lasted all day. Our Regt. got into a regular Shiloh fight about 12 M. fought well and repulsed the enemy then was flanked and forced back at a heavy slaughter on both sides. Great many killed and wounded. Killed Capt. Doil Co. “H”, J. Fiddler, E. Powell, Wm. McDonough, J. Kies, Wm. Etnier. A number out of Co. “G” wounded while falling back. I was surrounded and captured and taken to the rear through the battle field which was three miles back. It was covered with the wounded and dead and dying. The enemy captured 1,000 of us and took us to Murfreesboro and paroled us. However, the battle raged furiously on the 2nd inst. Then General Rosecrans fought them back over the same ground. The 3rd inst we had 72 pieces artillery in position and killed 1800 in one hour and 40 minutes. A decided victory.” 1863 “Thursday January 1st, Cold and frosty this morn. Up at night. No place to sleep. Secesh took my coat, ruber (rubber) and blanket, canteen. Took all from me and give me no grub. We took corn for fuel. Poor fare. The battle rages. The wounded Rebs come in by wagon loads. I with the rest of prisoners was put in the courthouse yard. At night formed line and drove to another lot. At 1 A.M. draw pint flower (flour?) and nothing to cook with.” “Thursday January 8th, This morn finds us in Atlanta. We march ¾ mile out from town and drew ½ loaf bread and put in the day hunting graybacks at 8 P.M. Took the train toward Chattanooga. Lay at Dalton all day. I went to the spring for water, found 3 pretty girls. Sung songs for me. Secesh songs.” “Friday January 9th, Lay all day here. Out of rations. I bought a pie, 50 cents. The boys go for the rebs sugar.” “January 10th, This morn finds us in Dalton in an old hog car. Rained all night. This morn at 8 A.M. we leave for Knoxville Tenn. Travel all day and all night. The boys sing and try to be merry, sometimes fight and quarrel. Go at a snail’s gallop. Go all night. Crowded so we cannot lay down, no sleep, no grub. So it goes with us.” “Friday January 16th, Still finds us traveling slow, 30 miles from Richmond. Had one fight in my car last night. Rained all night. 11 A.M. we are now layin 13 miles from town waiting other troops to leave before we enter town. We arrive in Richmond 3 P.M. March up Main Street and stood at rinks till they find some place to put us. 6 P.M. now we go into old tobacco factory (Castle Thunder). Plenty tobacco. Draw rations, ½ loaf bread, little beef, mess of. In squads of 20. Cold.” “Saturday January 17th, This morn finds me on the 2nd floor. Sleep pretty well. I feel unwell. The day is spend gaming. I have been playing checkers through the window with my nose. At 5 P.M. draw our rations, ½ loaf bred spoilt meet (meat). Evening quite cool.” “Sunday January 18th, Still in prison playing checkers through the window. It’s Sunday and none of us going to church. We draw our rations as before. Men steeling each other’s haversacks. Our rations only ¼ ration.” “Sunday February 1st, Again a disappointed set of men. Instead of being on our way to Fortress Monroe we are in the prison. We have a general cleaning up the floor as though we was going to leave soon. I believe I shant go to church today.” “Monday February 2nd, It moderated. Look like Indian summer. We are still in same place. Reports say we leave at 3 in the morn. Joyful times if so.” “Tuesday February 3rd, Up all night. At 2 A.M. fell in line, 750 march out in the street and stood in ranks till 6 A.M. And it snowing and cold. Took the train at 7 A.M. Cross J. River bridge, ¾ mile cross and 40 feet high. Arrived at Petersburg 2 P.M. (22 m) took cars for City Point (10 miles). I seen Water Birch with red buds. Arrived City Point 4 P.M. The Flag of Truce Steamer New York there with Stars and Stripes flying. We gave three cheers. Took the boat for Fortress Monroe. Anchored 40 miles from City Point.” “Wednesday February 4th, Finds us at anchor 40 or 50 miles from City Point. At 6 we set sail for Fortress Monroe. We arrive at Fortress Monroe 10 A.M. Laid at anchor till 5 P.M. We pass the blockade. The Monitor on picket. I see the two large guns in the U. S. A. The Lincoln and Union. The bay full of ships. At 5 we raised anchor for Annapolis Md. Rough sea. Some sick. Travel all night.” I must stop here and to give you an idea about how much is left for this portion of the diary, I’m only on page 9 (of my typed manuscript) out of the 30 pages. As far as the written pages I’m not even half way through the diary. I want to now get to his trip West. I’ve quoted most of this part of the diary, but there are a few entries that I haven’t to try and save space here. JOURNEY WESTWARD 1882 “June 21st, Leave Logan 7 A.M. Arrive in Terre Haute 12:15 P.M. Dined in depot. Leave Terre Haute 2:50 P.M. Pass Martinsville 4 P.M. and It raining. Some harvesting, some planting corn. Arrive at St. Louis 8 ½ P.M. Took train 9 P.M. 3 trunks missing, 2 of Fry’s and my own. Arrive at C. B. & Q. crossing near Monmouth 4 A.M.” “Friday June 24th, Missing trunks arrived. We cross Mo. River to Omaha. Laid in our supplies. Come back to transfer depot at C. B. Quite warm. Took emigrant train. Was assorted according to nationality. Leave Omaha 5 P.M. Travel all night.” “Sunday June 25th, Travel all at 5 A.M. Pass through Clarks. Quite storm pass over and terrible cyclone pass in front of the engine and took everything in its way. Stop at Grand Island 5:45 A.M. Took breakfast. Clear off quite a nice day. We pass Kearney Junction 12 M. See quite a number dug outs and sod houses. Level prairie. 2 P.M. Rev. Galiger preached on train from 2nd Corn. 5th Chap and later clause 20th verse. In sight N. Plat River. All day cross N. Plat. 58:45 P.M. Arrive in N. Plat City. 6 P.M. lay here 20 minutes for supper. The river bank full.” “Monday June 26th, Travel all night. Stop at Sidney 5 A.M. to breakfast. Cool and pleasant. Altitude 3,000 feet. Pass Antelope, a place noted for quantity antelope. At 9 ½ A.M. we are passing between Bushnell and Pine Bluff. The line Nebraska and Wyoming T. (Territory). Prairie dogs and gofers are numerous. Passengers amuse themselves trying to kill them. We stop at Cheyenne (Chian) 2 P.M. in view of Black Hills, 50 miles of and Pikes Peak. The grade so heavy they put 2 engines on. Cheyenne capital of Wyoming. 6,000 inhabitants and 6041 feet elevation situated on broad plain with Crow Creek around two sides. From Cheyenne to Sherman is 100 feet elevation to the mile. Sherman is 8242 feet elevation. Black Hills in view to the N.W. and snow caped Mts. to the S. W. Made a stop at Thornburgh. The T. Hotel quite a building. Specimen of the products of the country, such as stuffed bear, deer, elk, antelope, lynx, swift grouse, pelican &c.” “Tuesday June 27th, We cross N. Plat River 7 A.M. and come into Fort Fred Steel to the south, 4 miles is hog back. Mt. Runs parallel with road 15 miles and is from 1 to 200 feet high. We see a herd antelope. L. Smith shot at them but no kill. Come to Rawlins 9:15 A.M. Lay here 3 hours. Quite a town for a destitute country. Leave 11 A.M. Pass the division of the continent or the summit of the Rocky Mts. At 1 P.M. see a herd of antelope on the hill. Bitter Creek runs parallel with road. 60 miles and empty in Green River. Arrive at Green River 8 P.M. Travel all night at 5 A.M. we arrive at the city of Evanston.” “Wednesday June 28th, Utah. Nice clear morn. Snow caped Mts. in view . We are now entering Utah Territory. We stop at Echo 10 A.M. In Echo valley and by Echo Creek. We cross Echo Creek 36 times in 26 miles. In a narrow canyon the rocky hill range from 2 to 500 feet high. Formed of red sand stone. Here we view the Pulpit Rock said to be the place where Brigham Young preached his first sermon to the Mormon’s. We pass on to Weber River where Chalk Creek, Silver and Echo Creeks put into W. River. Here some of the hills are composed of a chalky substance and of various colors. Weber affords excellent territory. Here we pass to 1000 mile. Tree designated by a sign board, 1000 miles from Omaha. Then we pass the Devils Slide or Serrated Rocks, from 50 to 100 feet high and 10 feet apart. Stone endwise run from base to top Mt. Pass through 2 tunnels. Follow this narrow canyon 40 miles. The Wasatch Mts. loom up on our left and in front covered with snow. The natives makin hay out of Alfalfa. The Weber River Canyon runs parallel with river. We arrive at Ogden 2:10 P.M. Transferred to other quarters. Pull out 3 ½ P.M. Come to Salt Lake. Travel several miles on the lake shore. Cross Bear River at Corinne. Game in abundance and ground all covered with alkali. Up, up, up we go with 3 powerful engines puffing and tugging, carrying us up to Promontory. At 7:10 P.M. where the last tie and last rail was laid and last spike driven that connects the east and west by rail.” “Saturday July 1st, Stop at Truckee City 12 ½ A.M. Pass through snow shed 48 miles long, also 2 tunnels. 8 A.M. breakfast at Blue Canyon. Here we hug around the side of Mts. while on the other side several hundred feet below us. We are at Shady Run. We pass around the Sierra Nevada Mts. then the great American Canyon. At this point the American River is compressed between two walls 2000 feet high. There we pass Colfax 10 A.M. Then Nevada, N. E. Mills, Applegate, Clipper Gap, Auburn. 11:30 A.M. New Castle. 12 M. pass Pino, Rocklin 1 P.M. dine. Arrive at Sacramento 2 ½ P.M. Fruit in abundance and confusion. Then Tremont, Dixon, Batavia, Elmira. From there Benicia. 9 ½ P.M. took ferry boat across the strait or bay, carrying 48 cars and 2 engines at one load from her back to Sacramento. One sea of fruit and grain.” “Sunday July 2nd, Finds at Oakland. Took ferry boat to San Francisco at 7 A.M. 2 miles across. Put up at the Montgomery House. Noisy town.” “Monday July 3rd, At Montgomery Hotel. The day spent in sight seeing. First to Woodward Garden, at museum and theatre. At night went to theater. See Uncle Tom’s Cabin play.” ‘ “Tuesday July 4th, At Montgomery Hotel. Everything decorated with flags. Quite street parade. All jubilant and patriotic. Several fires during the day.” “Thursday July 6th, At Montgomery House. At 9 A.M. all took steamer Columbia for Portland. All went well. All on deck taking in the sights. We see several whale and a lot of sea lions and fur seals. Also black fish 25 feet long. All went well until afternoon when sea arose and all on board sung New York except myself.” “Friday July 7th, All on board of steamer but very few up for breakfast. All in their bunks sick enough. I see whale and black fish. Sea ruff all day, continues into night.” “Saturday July 8th, On steamer. Sea not quite so rough but slim attendance at table. The sick made their appearance in evening 4 P.M. Crossed the barr at mouth Columbia River. Landed at Astoria few minutes. Sail all night.” “Sunday July 9th, Found us at two o’clock at the wharf at Portland. I and Scot strolled up through town till breakfast. We stop at Richmond House. Fry, Smith and myself crossed Willamette into East Portland to cemetery and to woods. Got shaved at Richmond Hotel.” “Monday July 10th, At Richmond Hotel. At 9 A.M. took Steamer R. R. Thompson down the W. River 12 miles to Columbia River. Mt. Hood in full view. Also Mt. St. Helena both covered with snow. However we may say Hood is visible 150 miles and is 17,000 feet high. We see the three twin sisters. Arrive at Cascade 2 P.M. Took train upriver at 3 P.M. Part time on trestle work over the river. The river lined with fishermen both whites and Indians. One Paten (?) trap caught 40,000 worth fish this season. We run all night.” “Tuesday July 11th, This morn finds us on train. Arrive Walla Walla 4 A.M. Rev. N. Evans comes on train and had us recheck for Huntsville as he now lives there. Arrive at Huntsville 6 A.M. Put up at Evans House. Afternoon went fishing. Caught mess mountain trout.” Well there you have it. As far as the condition of the diary and the photos the diary measures about 3 3/4” x 6” and the front cover is almost off but just attached by a tiny thread. The back cover is still attached and the binding is good along with the pages. The photos are in good shape. One is a tintype showing Gillis and another woman but I have no idea who she is or the children in the other photos.

1st Minnesota Volunteers Stephen Martin Medals Ribbons Button First MN Civil War
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US Civil War Era Photo Album 170 CDV's including 60 Civil War officers & Cabinet
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Outstanding collection of 170 CDV's. We removed the CDV's from the album and they are all in protective sleeves. The photos are numbered and there is an old index at the front of the album listing the names. Numbers 136, 137 & 138 were CDV's of Jesus Christ and they are missing as is number 185 "The Great Surrender" which was we believe a CDV of a cartoon showing the confederacy surrendering, there are also 27 never used spaces. The 170 other CDV's are all present. The original owners trimmed the edges of the CDV's to fit them in their album. The auction includes all the CDV's as listed and the album. We have listed to the best of our abilities the CDV's and if the CDV is a photo of the individual or a photo of a painting or drawing of the individual but please note it is sometimes impossible to tell especially since photographers often retouched the photos. There are several photos which we are unsure of the individual because we could not decipher the hand writing on the index sheets and these have question marks next to the listing. We included several photos of the CDV's in the album before their removal, all of the index sheets and the exterior of the album. The album is in good condition with only a few minor tears and it is missing the medal closure strap. Please note that the listing starts with photo number "0". All of the photos of the CDV's removed from the album are with the CDV's in plastic sleeves. We are selling the collection together because it would be a shame to split it up. We estimate that there are 60 CDV's of Civil War soldiers and cabinet officers. FREE DOMESTIC SHIPPING0Martha Washington drawing 1George Washington Philip Henry Sheridan. Photo101Mills ??? Photo151Artemus Ward (Charles Farrar Browne). Photo2John Adams. Winfield Scott Hancock photo102George Pope Morris photo152John B. Gough. Photo3Thomas Jefferson William Tecumseh Sherman. Photo103John George Sa ???? Trollope photo4James Madison William S. Rosecrans. Irving. Photo154Eugene Sue. Drawing5James Monroe David Glasgow Farragut Kent Kane. Photo6John Quincy Adams Lathrop Motley. Photo7Andrew Jackson. Joseph Hooker. Ward Beecher. Photo8Martin Van Buren. Photo58General Ambrose Everett Burnside. Group. Photo9James K. Polk John Adams Dix photo109Prince Napolean photo159Robert Jefferson Breckinridge. Photo10William Henry Harrison John Ellis Wool. Howard Russell photo160Edwin Hubbell Chapin. Photo11John Tyler. Milton. Drawing161James Gordon Bennett Sr. Photo12Zachary Taylor. Shakespeare. Thurlow Weed photo13Millard Fillmore. Albert photo163Horace Greeley photo14Franklin Pierce. Victoria photo164Garrett Smith. ??? Photo15James Buchanan. Photo65General Giuseppe Maria Garibaldi photo115Lord Lyons (Richard). Photo165Loyd Garrison. Photo16Abraham Lincoln. Photo66 Lafayette. Albert & wife. Photo166General Cassius Marcellus Clay. Alexander II. Sumner. Photo18Andrew Johnson photo68Seargent John Lincoln Clem. Photo118Emperor Alexander I. Phillips. Photo19General Ulysses S. of Wellington. Reed Giddings photo20William H. Seward. Brougham (Henry) photo170John Brown. Drawing21Salmon P. Chase. Josephine. Drawing171 Young Africa". Photo22Simon Cameron. Bonaparte. Drawing172"The Little Joker". Photo23Edwin McMasters Stanton. Drawing73Judge Story. Photo123Louis Napolean. Henry Wagner Halleck. Hamilton. Eugenie. Generals. Photos75Henry Clay. Photo125Marie Antoinette. Generals drawing76Daniel Webster photo126Thomas Babington Macaulay. George Brinton McClellan. Drawing77Judge Roger Brooke Taney photo127Sir Walter Scott. Drawing177Paul Morphy (Champion Chess Player). Photo28General Winfield Scott photo78George Bancroft. Photo128Alfred Tennyson. Photo178"A Disgusted Secesh" photo29General Irvin McDowell. Photo79Henry Winter Davis photo129Lord Byron. Mercer Taliaferro Hunter. Photo30General George Meade photo80Tom Cornell ??? Photo130Thomas Moore drawing180John Letcher. Photo31General John Charles Fremont. Arnold Douglas. Photo131Mary Queen of Scotts. Drawing181John Slidell. Photo32Mrs. John Charles Fremont photo82Mrs. Stephen Arnold Douglas. Photo132Robert Burns. Drawing182James Murray Mason. Photo33General Robert Anderson. Drawing83Andrew Johnson. Von Humboldt. Photo183William Lowndes Yancey. Photo34Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth. photo84John Jordan Crittenden photo134Bayard Taylor photo184General John C. Breakenridge photo35General David Hunter. Photo85Judge Joseph Holt Barrett Browning. Drawing185empty Nathaniel P. Banks photo86Thomas Francis Marshall photo136empty John Buchanan Floyd. Photo37General John Pope. David Emanuel Twiggs photo38General Franz Sigel Louis Trezevant Wigfall photo39General Alexander McDowell McCook photo89Governor John Brough. Hawthorne. Photo189General William Joseph Hardee photo40General Don Carlos Buell photo90William Gannaway "Parson" Brownlow" Nightingale photo190General Simon Bolivar Buckner. Photo41General Philip Kearny Jr. Benjamin ? Photo191General Stonewall Jackson. photo42General Frederick William Lander D. Prentice. Photo192General Sterling Price. Photo43General Edwin Vose Sumner Cullen Bryant. Photo143John James Audubon. Photo193General Albert Sidney Johnson ???? Edward Dickinson Baker photo94Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Photo144Edgar Allan Poe photo194General Joseph Johnson photo45General Sprague ???. photo95Oliver Wendell Holmes. Photo145Lydia Huntley Sigourney. Photo195General P.G.T. Beauregard. Photo46General Thomas Francis Meagher. Drawing96John Greenleaf Whittier. Photo146Dante Robert E. Lee photo47General Thomas John Wood Everett. Photo197John C. Calhoun Andrew Hull Foote. Fenimore Cooper. Photo198Mrs. Jefferson Davis. Cornelius Vanderbilt Waldo Emerson. Hamilton Stephens Charles Wilkes Dickens Davis. Photo (Condition: Pre-Owned)

ID’D LT. MORGAN ROBERTSON CIVIL WAR CSS NAVY CUTLASS SWORD? BY COOK & CO. N.O.
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US Civil War Sword of Lt. Seward C. Nelson, honored at Illinois Memorial Miss.
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US Civil War Sword of Lt. Seward C. Nelson, honored at Illinois Memorial in Vicksburg National Military Park Mississippi. With I.D. disc.You are bidding on the actual sword, I.D. disc, and family bible of Civil War officer Seward C. Nelson (1838-1875) of Company C, 41st Illinois Volunteers, Union Army.His name appears on the memorial at Illinois Memorial in Vicksburg National Military Park Mississippi. The Wapella, IL Chapter of the Grand Army of the Republic (No. 251) was named the Seward Nelson Post.Lt. Nelson received this sword (July 12, 1863) when he was promoted from Sgt. to first Lt. in the field at Jackson, Mississippi after the officers in his regiment were all killed or wounded. This sword was never used in battle.Also included with this sale for Civil War historians, are old photos of Seward taken after his service, a handwritten letter, his obituary, and some Confederate currency he brought back from the war. I don't have his war diary but I have an old photocopy of part of it that is included.This collection has never been for sale. Lt. Nelson is my great-great grandfather ABOUT THE SWORDThis is an officer's sword.The blade obverse ricasso is engraved IRON PROOF like blades made in Solingen, Prussia (now Germany). The blade is acid-etched with foliage, military symbols, "U.S.", and "E Pluribus Unum". It has a grey tone, some dirt and light corrosion and is not restored. It is unbent and the tip is pointed and unbent.The hand guard is cast in solid brass and has the USA eagle perching on shield in front of 8 furled flags and 13 stars. Flared pommel.Wood grip covered with black leather and wound with twisted brass wire flanked on each side by a strand of single wire. Some of the single wires are present but are no longer in the right place next to the twisted wires. See photos.Leather washer where the blade and hilt meet is intact but the hilt is slightly loose on the blade.Scabbard is steel with brass drag and throat, screwed to the steel. There are two mounting bands with brass rings and a chain between the rings. The sheet brass is engraved with flowers and vines CONDITION:I have not cleaned, repaired, or polished any of this in any way and I believe this is the deep patina of a 160-year old piece of history. There is a small dent in the steel scabbard.Weight of sword and scabbard is 3 pounds.ABOUT THE I.D. DISCThe I.D. disc that Seward C. Nelson wore in the Union Army is made from a Liberty Seated silver half dollar: Inscribed, "July 12 '63 / Lunt S.C. Nelson / 41st / Ills". It is likely that this disc was worn at Jackson where Nelson was wounded on August 6, 1863. The back of the disc is the back side of the half dollar with a simple hand-crafted pin soldered on. The front of the quarter has been ground smooth (including the coin's date) and then hand-engraved as shown in the photos.The Liberty seated half dollar used (large letters in legend, mint mark O) was issued between 1842 and 1845 and is 0.900 silver with diameter 30.6mm. It was minted at the New Orleans mint.The disc has not been polished.ABOUT SEWARD C. NELSONBorn December 16, 1838 in Norway. He renounced allegiance to King of Sweden and Norway October 9, 1860.Enlisted in Captain Conklin's Company, Col. I.C. Pugh Commanding, 41st Ill. Vol. Inf. Joined regiment at Decatur 7 August, 1861 at age 23 for three years or the duration of the war.The enlistment muster states, Seward C. Nelson was born in the kingdom of Norway, was 23 years of age, 5 feet 8 inches high, light complexion, blue eyes, light hair and by occupation a farmer.His war diary indicates he was at Shiloh, Memphis, Vicksberg, and Jackson, and before that marched through Kentucky.He was promoted from Sgt. to first Lt. in the field at Jackson, Mississippi after the officers in his regiment were all killed or wounded. It was at this ceremony he received this sword.Two years after he enlisted, he was wounded at Jackson on 6 August 1863, "slightly wounded in the foot." He also contracted dysentery which he never fully recovered from.He was Discharged 22 October 1863 at Vicksburg, Miss. to accept a commission Seward is one of the heroes honored on the Illinois Monument (Company C, 41st Ill. Vol.) at Vicksburg National Military Park Mississippi Married to Rachel Woy April 4, 1866. He owned and ran a general store in Wapella, Illinois and was postmaster there until his death. He left an estate of $1710.Died March 13, 1875 at age 31. Funeral services were held at Presbyterian Church, Wapella March 15 at 1pm. Seward was a Mason and member of the Odd Fellows. Members of Masonic Fraternity and Order of Odd Fellows requested to attend.His gravestone can be found in the Sugar Grove Cemetery in Wapella, Illinois, and is shared by his brother Lewis Nelson.WAPELLA OBITUARYSeward C. NelsonWhen a good man dies the people mourn. The town of Wapella was called upon last Saturday to mourn the death of Seward C. Nelson who had been a resident of that town and township for the past sixteen years. Seward was one of those genial, clever gentlemen who secured the respect and confidence of all with whom he associated, either in business or social circles. He was a man whose word was as good as his bond, and during his long residence in Wapella his neighbors had formed such a strong attachment for him, and had such confidence in his clear judgement, that he was made a prominent leader in nearly every enterprise that looked to the advancement of this town. At the outbreak of the war he enlisted in this city in Co. C, Forty-first Illinois Infantry, and for three years faithfully served his adopted country in some of the most trying and arduous campaigns in the south-west. He was promoted to orderly sergeant because of his peculiar qualifications for the place. At the battle of Jackson, Miss., he led his company into the fight, being the highest ranking officer present. After passing through the storm of bullets during that long and persistent contest, and when the fight was about over and victory for the union army was completed, he received a severe wound in the foot, which disabled him. For his cohrageous (sic) conduct on that day he was promoted First Lieutenant. At the close of his three years enlistment, and when he was about to re-enlist for the war, Lieut. Nelson was seized with that terrible disease camp diarrhoea. This so reduced him in health that he was unfitted for further active service, and consequently he resigned and came home. From that disease he never recovered, and from the time of his retiring from the army till his death he was almost constantly under medical treatment. Men may say that the war is over and that the past should be forgotten, but think you that poor emaciated Seward C. Nelson could ever forget the cause that was slowly but surely dragging him down to his grave. After his return from the army he engaged in business in Wapella, and by strict integrity built up a reputation and trade that was profitable. During the greater part of the las eight years he was postmaster in that town, the duties of which office he conducted with that methodical care whlch (sic) guided him in every duty in life. Nine years ago he was married to Miss Rachael Woy. He leaves a wife and two children to mourn their loss. The funeral services were held on last Monday, and were conducted by the Masonic and Oddfellows lodges, in both of which he help membership Pease to his included with this sale for historians and collectors, are six photographs of Seward C. Nelson:• Two photographic prints by Cook & Fenwick, Bloomington, IL taken in his later years.• One colorized & retouched convex bubble glass portrait of the same photo above. The bubble glass is cracked. It has been poorly repaired with scotch tape, probably by my late mother.• Two small Daguerreotype prints, one in a hinged wooden case, both behind glass. (These are rare early photographic prints printed on polished silver plates.) Both frames are in poor condition. The hinged wooden case has a broken hinge mount. A younger Seward is seen in these photographs with two other people (perhaps his mother in one, and his brother in the other).• One desktop printer print of an internet photo from unknown source that looks like Seward in uniform. I have no information on this image.BIBLEAlso included in this sale is Seward C. Nelson's home bible, 1865. This has Seward's handwriting in it, and entries he made in the "family records" pages before the New Testament Publisher is the American Bible Society, "translated from the original Greek."The bible is in very poor condition, has an embossed leather cover (one side not attached) and weighs 6 pounds, three ounces. Dimensions are 7.5"W x 10.5"L x 3.75H" This will be shipped separately OTHER MEMORABILIA INCLUDED IN THIS SALE• Original obituary for Seward, clipped from the Wapella newspaper in 1875 (transcribed above)• Original printed funeral notice for Seward.• Clipping showing the Illinois monument, typed on by Seward's son, Norman.• A handwritten letter and envelope written by Seward in August 1871.• Three pieces of Confederate currency Seward brought home from the war:1. 1863 10¢ Ten Cent United States Fractional Currency2. 1862 Mansura Avoyelles 25¢ postage currency, hand numbered No. 623, Sept. 24th and hand-signed by the mayor and treasurer.3. 1863 $100 State of Louisiana, No. 1570 (hand numbered), hand signed by the Auditor and Treasurer.• An old (1990s) photocopy of Seward's handwritten war journal (incomplete), which begins on August 7th, 1861, and ends (incomplete) March 12th, 1862.PROVENANCE OF THIS C. Nelson is my great, great maternal grandfather. All these items were passed down over generations to me. They have never been for sale. (Condition: Pre-Owned)

Slave Document/ Fauquier County, Virginia/ Confederate
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1872 Slave Document & Cover/ Fauquier County, Virginia/ Confederate Up for auction is a super rare 1872 letter and cover from former Confederate AAG Giles B. Cook, a Port Royal, Virginia lawyer, to William P. Ficklin of Fauquier County, Virginia. Ficklin is the father of Lt. William L. Ficklin of the famous Black Horse Cavalry (4th Virginia Cavalry). The letter is about the collection and settlement of accounts related to William & Ann Dulany, in-laws of William P. Ficklin. What’s interesting about this letter is that Cook is attempting to collect revenue in 1871 for non-payment of slaves hired out during the Civil War owned by Dulaney & Ficklin. Anne Marie Dulany owned 67 slaves and William 16 in 1860. Anne owned 102 slaves in 1850, which is considered very wealthy and extremely uncommon for a woman in 1850. Ficklin owned 36 slaves in 1860. The letter lists several slaves hired out, to who, and when and whether the person who hired the slave paid, as well as noting that several ran away to the “Yankees” in the spring of 1862. One gentleman refused to pay anything. Great detail. The notation for John Gatewood states he moved away and went bankrupt. Gatewood hired a slave girl named Ginnie (Christmas 1862) a week before the emancipation proclamation became law (January 1, 1863) in the rebellion states like Virginia, so legally Ginnie should have been set free. Ironically, she was just 45 miles from the Union Capitol of Washington D.C, where emancipation became law. John Gatewood was required to pay $15 to William S. Dulany for one year of service (1861) and to provide Ginnie with clothing and shoes. Another farmer, William W. Magruder also hired a slave man named Matthew a week before the emancipation proclamation became law (January 1, 1863) in the rebellion states like Virginia, so legally Ginnie should have been set free. William W. Magruder was required to pay $15 to Anne Dulany for one year of service (1861) for Matthew and to provide him with good and sufficient clothing. William Wilson Magruder was a 58-year-old Woodstock, Virginia physician at the time and owner of 13 slaves. Magruder was a Confederate sympathizer, working with the southern government during the war, he also rented a room to be used as a Confederate commissary in 1863. Dr. Magruder never paid his debt, because Matthew ran away to the Union Army in the spring of 1862, so Magruder refused to pay. Biography of Attorney & Major Giles B. Cook (Confederate) Major Giles B. Cook was assigned as AAG with Brigadier General Philip St. George Cooke in 1861 and AAG to Major General Samuel Jones in 1863. Cooke was the Asst. Inspector General for the Department of West Virginia in 1864 and the Acting Chief Inspector for Major General Fitzhugh Lee in 1865. This document is part of a large cache of documents purchased from a descendant of the Dulany, Eastham, and Ficklin families of Fauquier County, VA. Many of the documents were owned by Lt. William L. Ficklin of the Black Horse Cavalry (Confederate). William P. Ficklin was Lt. William L. Ficklin's father and Ann Dulany was his mother-in-law. John Dulany was his uncle. Ficklin’s father-in-law and Ann's husband was Col. Lawson Eastham, a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1842-44 and the Virginia Senate from 1874-77. This is a one of kind rare opportunity to own a piece of Civil War history. See photos for condition. Thanks for looking and good luck bidding. (Condition: Pre-Owned)

INCREDIBLE and SUPER RARE BATTLE OF SHILOH 1862 COLOR LITHO SHEET MUSIC
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My dad, J. Loyd Davis, began collecting sheet music in the 1960's up until his passing in 2011. For the first time since his passing, I will be making some of his ABSOLUTE BEST and RAREST pre-1900 sheet music from his 45+ year collection of >10,000 pieces of sheet music available for sale on Ebay. I am a longtime seller on eBay with a 100% feedback rating. YOU ARE BUYING an INCREDIBLE and RARE "The Battle of Shiloh, or Pittsburg Landing" civil war sheet music from 1862 with a SUPER RARE *COLOR* lithograph cover depicting the Shiloh battlefield with lines of infantry, mounted officers, flags, cannonballs, smoke, and wounded / dead Civil War soldiers. This is the RAREST of five Civil War battle pieces composed by Charles Grobe. How rare?? Glad you asked! The Lester S. Levy collection of >30,000 pieces of American sheet music at Johns Hopkins University DOES NOT HAVE this piece of sheet music. The Library of Congress sheet music collection DOES NOT HAVE this piece of sheet music.During the Civil War American composers created huge numbers of compositions about the Civil War to respond to great interest from the public. A very small subset of these were pieces that were composed in direct response to recent battles, and these were often published within just a few weeks of the battle. These compositions dramatically depicted pivotal battles of the Civil War in music so as to bring them alive in the minds and imaginations of the audience. The Battle of Shiloh composition offered here is such a piece.The sub-title text below the cover's color lithograph states that the battle is "Musically Photographed by Charles Grobe" (composer) and indicates that Grobe is trying to vividly recreate for the listener the battle in his music and the accompanying text (see below). Regarding the composition's text, eyewitness reporting via the telegraph greatly impacted the reporting of Civil War battles. Responding to this, Grobe's composition includes lengthy captions above the lines of music that narrate detailed events from the battle and lists the names of many union and confederate officers involved in the battle (Grant, Sherman, Johnston, Beauregard, etc.; see below). Many captions were directly derived from battlefield accounts communicated via telegraph by newspaper war correspondents that were printed in various newspapers around the country According to Morgan [1]: "When one considers the cultural capital of both eyewitness reporting and the telegraph, the text seems almost like the central focus of Grobe’s battle pieces, with the music functioning as a vehicle for bringing its recitation to life. By delivering descriptive reports of battle aloud, wartime performers would have taken on the role of witness to the military confrontations depicted in music, perhaps playing the part of war correspondent themselves embodying a persona and enacting a relationship to war different from their own." [1] E. Morgan (2015), "War on the Home Front: Battle Pieces for the Piano from the American Civil War," Journal of the Society for American Music, Volume 9, Number 4, pp. 381–408.This sheet music is about is about 13" x 10" and is in overall very good condition including the color lithograph on the front cover. PLEASE CAREFULLY REVIEW THE DETAILED HIGH-RESOLUTION PHOTOS TO ASSESS THE QUALITY AND CONDITION OF THIS SHEET MUSIC. PLEASE SEND ME ANY QUESTIONS IF THE CONDITION OF THE ITEM IS DOUBT. This would look great in a frame and is the perfect gift for any civil war enthusiast or historian.Here is the text from the MORNING. Before Jehovah's awful throne, Ye nations bow with sacred joy; Know that the Lord is God alone. He can create and he destroy.Gen: Sidney Johnston announces that he is about to lead them against the invaders, and that they would soon celebrate the greatest victory of the war.Advance of the enemy. Our advance division under Gen. Prentiss, is surprised in their camp. Gen Prentiss and three of his regiments are taken prisoners. Our entire advance line, held by the commands of Generals Prentiss, Sherman, and McClernald, is abandoned. The reserve line, held by Generals Hurlburt and W.H.L. Wallace, is gallantly defended from ten o'clock in the morning, until half past three in the afternoon. But the force of the enemy is too strong and the necessity of falling back becomes apparent. Just then Gen. Wallace is mortally wounded, and carried of the field. At half past four in the afternoon the rebels occupy the camps of every division save that of W.H.L Wallace. Our whole army is crowded to a circuit of half a mile around the landing. We have lost nearly half of our field artillery. There is now a lull in the battle. The enemy are preparing for the onset. Col. Webster chief of Gen. Grant's staff, arranges our remaining 22 guns in a masterly manner for the protection of our position. Gen. Grant has arrived on the field at 3 o'clock P.M. and taken the chief command. Our weary troops catch the first glimpse of Gen. Don Carlos Buell's advance guard under Gen. Nelson across the Tennessee river. At 5 o'clock P.M. the enemy, exasperated by the loss of their commander in chief, S.A. Johnston, flushed with their success and urged on by their idolized Beauregard, made their last attack. Coming within range of our gun boats, Tyler and Lexington, these open upon them with terrible effect. Towards dark the enemy slacken their fire and withdraw. The night between two battles.Buell's divisions are rapidly ferried across the river and assigned their positions. Gen. Lew Wallace brings his division up from Savannah, and forms it on our right. A counsel of war is held, and it is decided to attack the enemy at daybreak. During the night, the gunboats keep up their fire on the enemy lying opposite our left wing, compelling them to fall back. Monday April 7th.Gen. Lew Wallace on the right, and Gen Nelson on the left push the enemy back steadily. Our centre under Crittenden, McCook, Hurlburt, and McClernand engage the enemy. We are steadily gaining ground. The rebels make one more grand rally. This decisive contest lasts for four hours. By two o'clock we have regained our position of Sunday morning. The enemy is in full retreat.Our cavalry follow in pursuit securing prisoners and large quantities of abandoned stores. VICTORY. "SOUND THE LOUD TIMBREL." Enroll in faithful history the name of Buell, Bride, Buckland, Bruce, Boyle, Coruye, Crittenden, Dresser, Ferrell, Gwin, Grant, Gross, Hurlburt, Hilger, Hawkins, Hewitt, Hildebrand, Hazen, Jeremy, Lagow, McCook, McClernand, McPherson, McArthur, McAllister, McDowell, Marsh, Maimburg, Mason, Nelson, Prentiss, Parsons, Richardson, Rawlings, Ransom, Sherman, Smith, Schwartz, Sullivan, Stuart, Stone, Sedgwick, Thompson, Thurber, Wallace, Woods, Webster, Weber, etc. etc. "Shower on them your sweetest flowers. Let the air ring with their praise NOTE I have two other RARE and RELATED items that I am also offering for sale at this time in my other listings:A) "The Battle of Port Royal or the Bombardment of Forts Walker & Beauregard" by Grobe (1861).B) "The Drummer Boy of Shiloh" by Hays (1865).I have hundreds of rare, pre-1900 sheet music from my dad's 45+ year collection that I hope to sell as time allows in the next several years. So be sure to save me on your Ebay's seller list if you want to keep informed of my latest offerings!!Your eBay feedback is appreciated, and I'm always glad to reciprocate THANKS FOR LOOKING!!! (Condition: Pre-Owned)

Confederate States Civil War D-Guard Bowie Knife Cook & Brothers New Orleans LA
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Civil War of 1861 Id Dog Tag 76th NY Gettysburg Andersonville POW McClellan
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Civil War Diary POW LT. James E Catlin Battle of the Crater Camp Asylum 45th PA
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Civil War Diary POW 2nd LT. James E Catlin Battle of the Crater Camp Asylum Company I 45th Regiment Pennsylvania Infantry DESCRIPTION: This is the diary / journal of 2nd Lieutenant James Edwin Catlin while and after he was a prisoner of war at Camp Asylum, Columbia, South Carolina. Lieutenant Catlin was captured at the Battle of the Crater on July 30, 1864. James Edwin Catlin was from Welsboro in Tioga County, Pennsylvania. He enlisted on September 21, 1861 as a Corporal. He was promoted to Sergeant on February 14, 1862, First Sergeant November 1863, Second Lieutenant June 21, 1864, First Lieutenant on May 17, 1965. He was a 2nd Lieutenant when he started this journal The following is a brief condensed description of some of the entries in the journal. January 1, 1865 he states his name, rank, and Regiment, as well as his home post office, and "In prison at Asylum Camp, Columbia S.C." The January 2 entry states: "A prisoner of War confined at Camp Asylum, Columbia S.C. Nothing to eat but corn meal and sorghum and very little of that." January 3: "At Columbia S.C. A Prisoner. January 4 - 20: "Ditto". On Janaury 21 he went in to the hospital with "fever". Sporatic entries interspresed between "Ditto"s. from January 22 thru February 12. On February 12, 13, 14 he writes about hearing Sherman is coming and the "Rebels are scared". February 15 he is put on a hospital car (train) headed for Charlotte North Carolina. He is just able to walk and the train hits 3 cows and runs off the tracks. Several entries about the journey to Charlotte then Thomasville then Danville. February 28: Arrives at Richmond and "put into the Officers Hospital at Libby Prison. Generals Cook and Kelly confined here." March 1 and 2 writes that Mr. Dent, General Grants brotherinlaw, is there and left on the 2nd. March 3 - 12 still at Libby Prison waiting for exchange and writing about the rain and the river is too high to go down in a boat. March 14: "on board the steamer N. York running off the Chesapeak, arrives at Annapolis. The remainder of the entries include his wait in Annapolis for his leave, his leave, his return to duty at Washington and Alexandria (with many details), his discharge on Sunday July 16, and life at home. There are entries for January 1 - 8, 1866 at the rear. There are also ledger notes for money he spent and lent or borrowed. The book "History of the Forty-fifth Regiment Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteer Infantry, 1861-1865" discusses the Battle of the Crater in some detail. Catlin is mentioned 9 times in the book on pages 91, 155, 157, 158, 180 (with photo on opposite page), 240, 261, 360, and 506. The reference on page 360 is interesting in that it is an account from Captain R. G. Richards who was also captured at the Battle of the Crater. He notes that he and Catlin were confined at Asylum with no shelter and had to sleep on the ground. The account from Richards is also interesting in the respect that an acount by a different soldier (page 261) who believes that Richards was killed at the Battle of the Crater. The book also details many of the other major battles the 45th Pennsylvania, thus Catlin, were involved in including South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Vicksburg, Wilderness, and Spottsylvania. Condition: The red cover is in rough condition with wear, tears, and tape holding the back cover in place. The interior pages are intact, tight and remarkably clean. There is little to no foxing. There is a dark stain on the inside of the front cover that goes through several pages but ends several pages before the handwritten entries begin. Our photographs are an integral part of our description, particularly relating to condition. Please reveiw them carefully as you will be receiving exactly what you see. If you need further photographs or have any questions please contact us. Due to the value of this item signature verification will be required upon delivery - no exceptions. Please ensure the address you have with eBay is one where you can sign for this item. Please Note * Though we do our best to provide you with the best photographs possible, all monitors display photos differently, so if you are unsure of what you are seeing please do not hesitate to contact us directly. Our listings are best viewed with your monitor set at 1024 x 768 and 32 bit high resolution. Fine Print: We reserve the right to retract any bids from bidders we deem unsuitable. This includes but is not limited to bidders of sport, bidders with negative feedback and or bidders that have not followed through with winning bids in the past. Buyer is responsible for all costs associated with shipping. All forms of payment must clear before item is shipped. (Condition: Pre-Owned)

New Listing24 Civil War Covers and 22 Letters from 25th Illinois Reg Soldiers Cook/Jackson
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Gen. McClellan Pewter ID Disc C. W. Ayer New Hampshire Co. F 4th Regiment Inf.
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eBay Large Maj. General Mc Clellan pewter Civil War Identification disc. It has a picture of General McClellan in his uniform on one side. The other side is stamped C. W. AYER CO F 4 NHV VA FT MONROE in the center. This is surrounded by THE WAR OF 1861 '62 & '63 and a ring of 6-point stars. It has an awesome uncleaned patina. It is giant and measures 34 mm in diameter. Here is the information listed for Charles W. Ayer: Residence Somersworth NH; 21 years old. Enlisted on 9/8/1861 as a Private. On 9/18/1861 he mustered into "F" Co. NH 4th Infantry He was discharged on 9/21/1864 at Fort Monroe, VA Other Information: born in Gilmanton, NH died in 1905 Buried: Pembroke Cemetery, Pembroke, NH Federal Pension Information: He applied for a pension on 7/19/1875 application # 206,044 After the War he lived in Suncook, NHHere is the information listed for the 4th New Hampshire infantry: FOURTH REGIMENT NEW HAMPSHIRE VOLUNTEER INFANTRY THREE YEARS BY PRANCIS W. PARKER, late Lieutenant Colonel Fourth Regiment New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry, and Brevet Colonel United States Volunteers. TWO hundred men were left over in organizing the Third Regiment, and they were ordered from Concord to Manchester to form the nucleus of the Fourth Regiment. The Fourth Regiment consisted mostly of natives of New Hampshire, with the exception of Company G, which was made up of stout-hearted Irishmen. It is said that the majority of the regiment were Democrats, politically. Quite a number of the officers had been officers in the New Hampshire militia, notably Colonel Drew, Captains Sleeper, Greenleaf, Newell, Bagley, Burley, and Badger. The first colonel, Thomas J. Whipple of Laconia, was a veteran of the Mexican war. Three lieutenants came from Dartmouth College,- Fuller, Carleton, and Kendall; one lieutenant, Parker, was a school-teacher from Illinois; the lieutenant colonel Bell, was a young lawyer. Company A enlisted at Dover; Company B at Nashua; Company D, at Laconia; Company F, at Great Falls; Company H, at Salem; Companies C, E, G, I, and K, were mostly Manchester men. A part of Company E was enlisted at Pittsfield. The regiment was mustered into service at Manchester the 18th of September, just two weeks after the Third had left the state. The regiment left Manchester for Washington the 27th of September. There it remained until the 9th of October, when it joined Gen. T. W. Sherman's expedition to Port Roval, S. C. It embarked on one of the great ships of the fleet, the "Baltic," a side-wheel steamer, suffered a terrible storm of three days off Hatteras, and a severe fright in striking on Frying Pan Shoals; arrived at Port Royal November 4, and saw from the ship's masts the attack upon Port Royal, the demolition of Fort Walker and the capture of Hilton Head. Here upon the sands on the beach of Hilton Head, close to the roaring surf, the regiment remained for three months, varying the monotony of camp life by an expedition to Tybee Island on the 3d of December. On the 26th of January the regiment embarked on ships, and started for the expedition on the Southern coast. It took part in the capture of Fernandina, Jacksonville, and St. Augustine. Seven companies garrisoned at St. Augustine, while the other three companies remained at Jacksonville during part of the summer. In September the regiment was ordered to Beaufort, S. C., and General Mitchell assumed command of the department. Active operations began which resulted in the battle of Pocotaligo, on the 22d of October. The regiment went into winter quarters at Beaufort. The monthly return of the regiment for September, 1862, after a year's service, shows 630 men and 21 officers present for duty, the actual loss for the year being 189, or nearly one-fifth of the active number. The spring of 1863 opened with an attack upon Morris Island, then followed the siege of Charleston. Gen. Q. A. Gillmore commanded the expedition. The division in which the Fourth New Hampshire found itself was commanded by Gen. A. H. Terry. The Fourth brigaded with the Third New Hampshire, Sixth Connecticut, and a battalion of sharpshooters. This brigade was commanded by Col. Louis Bell of the Fourth. Two long sand- bar islands on the coast just south of Charleston harbor formed the basis of an attack upon Charleston. Folly Island was captured with very little resistance. The Fourth New Hampshire worked twenty-one nights in building batteries to attack Morris Island, which is separated from Folly Island by a narrow creek. On the 10th of July the Fourth participated in an attack on Morris Island. The successive charges on Fort Wagner were repulsed by the enemy. On the 23d of July the Fourth dug the first trench and planted the first chevaux de frise for the long siege of Fort Wagner. From the 23d of July to the 7th of September may be looked upon as one continued battle under the blazing sun of South Carolina, -- digging trenches, advancing lines, repelling attacks and doing severe out-post duty. The morning of September 7, when the line was formed for the final charge, the news came that the fort was evacuated. The capture of Fort Wagner resulted in the immediate capture of the whole island. Then from the 7th of September to the 15th of January, 1864, the regiment took part in the siege of Charleston. Under the guns of the enemy, 388 men re-enlisted for three years, or during the war. The enlisting officer was Capt. F. W. Parker. The regiment returned to Beaufort, S. C., once more, then formed part of the expedition up the Savannah river. It was afterwards ordered to Jacksonville, Fla., to support General Seymour, who had been repulsed at Olustee. Once more the regiment was returned to Beaufort. In the spring of 1864, the re-enlisted veterans, under command of Colonel Bell, were furloughed. On the 12th of April, the remaining detachment, under command of Lieutenant- Colonel Drew, was ordered to report to Major-General Butler, commanding the Department of Virginia and North Carolina. It landed on Gloucester Point, York river, where the furloughed veterans joined them. Gen. Adelbert H. Ames commanded the division. On the 4th of May, the Army of the James sailed by the James river, for an attack upon Bermuda Hundred, the famous "bottle," or neck of land south of Richmond. Bermuda Hundred was taken and immediately fortified. The first advance movement was made upon the enemy on the 9th of May. General Ames' division tore up several miles of the Richmond & Petersburg Railroad, and then, by a hasty march, joined the Eighteenth Corps at Swift Creek, where the enemy was attacked, and after a sharp fight driven to the defenses of Petersburg, on the Appomatox. At night the rebels, in turn, charged upon our lines, but were severely repulsed. While preparing to renew the advance in the morning, heavy firing was heard in the direction of General Terry's command, which had been stationed at Lempster Hill, to repel any advance from Richmond. General Ames' division immediately joined General Terry's command, and the whole Army of the James moved "on to Richmond." The two armies met at Drewry's Bluff. There on the 14th, 15th, and 16th of May, the Fourth New Hampshire was in action. On the 16th, the regiment formed part of a line of advanced skirmishers. In the morning of that day, the enemy broke through our lines, doubled them up, and the Fourth Regiment was left alone, a thin line of skirmishers in the advance without flankers. A brigade suddenly appeared on the right of the line, and the regiment was to all intents and purposes captured, but in their innocence of capture they suddenly retreated. The loss at Drewry's Bluff was great. Company E went in with 42 men,and lost 28 killed, wounded, or missing. Lt. Frank Hutchinson fell while firing his revolver within a few feet of the enemy; Maj. Charles Sawyer received a wound which caused his death. General Butler was driven back from Bermuda Hundred again and " bottled up.'' Several ineffective attempts were made to break the Confederate line. On the 28th of May, the division under General Ames was ordered to report to Gen. W. F.Smith, of the Eighteenth Corps. The corps was ordered to report to General Meade, commanding the Army of the Potomac. It was taken by transports to the White House on the Pamunkey river, and took part in the battle of Cold Harbor on the 3d of June. Eight days of living and fighting in trenches followed, and on the 12th, it marched with the army in its change of position to the right bank of the James river. On the morning of the 16th of June, the attack on Petersburg commenced. The Regiment was engaged in the first attack upon Petersburg. Colonel Bell's brigade took 125 prisoners and several pieces of artillery. Then began the siege of Petersburg. The siege of Charleston had prepared the Fourth Regiment for the duties of trench and fortification work. For thirty-six days Colonel Bell's brigade remained in one position-- on the left of Fort Stedman and joining the right of the Ninth Corps. The picket line of the brigade was within twenty feet of the Confederate outpost. The regiment lost 5o men killed or wounded while performing ordinary trench duty. The Fourth New Hampshire was again brigaded under command of Colonel Bell with the Thirteenth Indiana, Ninth Maine, One Hundred and Fifteenth New York, and Ninety-seventh Pennsylvania. The division was commanded by General Turner. On the 30th of July, the regiment was in the Crater Fight, or the battle of the " Mine." For hours it held the line on the right of the exploded fort close to the ravine, across which came a terrible enfilading fire from a battery. The regiment was quite small- 200 men- and out of this number 50 men were killed or wounded. Captain Clough was severely wounded, and Captain Parker took command of the regiment. In the fight the flag-staff was cut off twice, and fifty-five bullets and shells put through the flag. That night, what was left of the regiment marched back to Bermuda Hundred. On the 13th of August, a movement was made under Gen. W. S. Hancock north of the James river. The Tenth Corps crossed the river and began a series of skirmishes which culminated on the 16th of August in a severe battle, with Gen. Robert E. Lee in our front. The battle is called, generally, the battle of Deep Bottom. Deep Bottom is situated at the rear of Malvern Hill. Three commanders of the brigade were wounded in succession- first, Colonel Osborne, of the Twenty-fourth Massachusetts, then Major Walrath, of the One Hundred and Fifteenth New York, followed by Captain Parker, of the Fourth, who received a very severe wound in the neck. Captain Hobbs, of Company A, took command of the regiment and the Tenth Corps withdrew to Bermuda Hundred. A captain was in command of the brigade, and only one captain was left for duty in the Fourth. On the 18th of September, 174 men, who had not re- enlisted, left for New Hampshire, under command of Lieutenant- Colonel Drew. In the spring of, 64, the regiment was 1000 strong. At the charge of Fort Gilmer (or New Market Heights), only 40 men could be mustered for the fight. Sergt. Willard K. Cobb, of Company E, who had just recovered from a severe wound was killed. The Fourth was under the command of Lt. John H. Roberts. The regiment was in the two expeditions against Fort Fisher-the first under General Butler, and the second under Gen. A. H. Terry. In the second and successful attack on Fort Fisher, the Fourth Regiment did some brave fighting. Colonel Bell, commanding the brigade, was killed on the corduroy road leading to the gate of the fort. In the long struggle in the fort under command of General Ames, the flag of the Fourth New Hampshire was locked with the Confederate flag on the top of a mound for twenty minutes. Capt. John H. Roberts was in command of the regiment during the fight. The night of the victory, a number of the Fourth New Hampshire were killed by the explosion of a magazine. The regiment remained at Fort Fisher until the 11th of February. Captain Parker was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel, returned from the hospital and took command. The Army of the Ohio, under General Scofield, advanced upon Wilmington and captured it. General Sherman was steadily advancing from Savannah. The Army of the Ohio and Sherman's Army joined at Cox's Bridge, near Goldsborough. The Fourth New Hampshire was ordered to guard the railroad between Wilmington and Little Washington, in order to forward supplies to Sherman's Army. After this duty was done, the regiment was ordered to rendezvous at Magnolia. Colonel Parker and Adjutant Challis were captured near Magnolia, and spent the rest of their time with the Army of General Johnston in its retreat to Greensborough. The regiment was quartered at Raleigh, N. C., until ordered home. They arrived in Concord and were mustered out on the 23d of August. This is a brief compendium of the history of the regiment- so brief that no personal mention can be made of bravery and endurance on the part of many heroes of the old Fourth still living, and of those, the larger number, who await us at the final roll-call beyond the lines of earth. The Fourth New Hampshire Volunteers was attached to, and a part of, Sherman's Expeditionary Corps, October 28, 1861, to March 31, 1862 ; at various stations in Department of the South, March 31, 1862, to April, 1864 ; First Brigade, Third Division, Tenth Army Corps, April 25 to June 19, 1864; Third Brigade' Second Division, Tenth Army Corps, June 19 to December 3, 1864; Third Brigade, Second Division, Twenty-fourth Army Corps, December 3, 1864 to April 2, 1865; Third Brigade, Second Division' Tenth Army Corps, April 2 to July 13, 1865; First Brigade, Second Division, Tenth Army Corps, July 13 to August, 1865 E N G A G E M E N T S. Port Royal, S. C. Nov. 7, 1861 James Island, S. C. June 10, 1862 Pocotaligo, S. C. Oct. 22, 1862 Siege of Ft. Wagner, Morris Island, S. C. July 10 to Sept. 6, 1863 Siege of Ft. Sumter, S. C. Sept. 7, 1863, to Jan. 15, 1864 Swift Creek (or Arrowfield Church), Va. May 9, 1864 Drewry's Bluff, Va. May 14- 16, 20, 1864 Near Bermuda Hundred, Va. May 17-19, 21-18, 1864 Cold Harbor, Va. June 4-12-, 1864 Petersburg, Va. June 16, 1864 Siege of Petersburg, Va. June 23 to July 29, 1864 Mine Explosion, Petersburg, Va. July 30, 1864 Deep Bottom, Va. Aug. 14- 16, 1864 New Market Heights (Ft. Gilmer), Va. Sept. 29, 1864 Ft. Fisher, N. C. Jan. 15, 1865 Ft. Anderson, N. C. Feb. 18, 1865The pictures are accurate as to its condition. Please look at my other auctions. Including: Bottles, & Civil War: Union & Confederate, Pre Civil War, Indian War, Organization, Military & Uniform button listings. If you have any questions or comments just send me an email. Thanks, Jim D

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