Alvan B. Fisher Diary, 1865
Alvan B Fisher
Rutland
Mass
10 Mass
Battery
2nd Corps
Art Brig
Sunday, January1, 1865
The coldest wether of the year & snow on the ground inspection of quarters
sent home two books to my children
Monday 2
Could & windey
Worked part of the day
Tuesday 3
Could & windey began to snow just at night worked part of the day
Wednesday, January 4, 1865.
Could & snow on the ground
shod the Capt horse
Bacon went into the woods to cut stockade
Thursday 5
Could & clear
Worked all day on horses
Friday 6
Could & raney all day
Made a reath for the Capt
Saturday, January 7, 1865.
Could & raney
had a leter from home
wrote a leter home
not much goin on
Sunday 8
Could & clear
had a full mounted inspection
not much goin on
Monday 9
Fine
Shod horses all day
Tuesday, January 10, 1865.
Raney all day
Made & Corps mark for the Magor
Wednesday 11
Cleer & could
had a leter from home
Thursday 12
Fine
Wrote a leter home
Wrote a leter to Anna J Bennett
Friday, January 13, 1865.
Very fine all day
worked the most of the day
6 years to day since I was marid
Saturday 14
Some windey
shod the sutlers horse worked all day
Sunday 15
Fine & windey
had a full mounted inspection
A.d. was marid
Monday, January 16, 1865.
Very fine all day
had a full mounted inspection (Monthly). the Rebs advancing on the left & we hitched up but thay did not come
Tuesday 17
Windy all day
Worked the most of the day
had a leter from home
Wednesday 18
Fine all day
Built a chimney to my tent
Wrote a leter home
Thursday, January 19, 1865.
Fine all day. Made
a frame to split shingles & shod
some horses
Friday 20
Fine
Recived a leter from
Mrs Ware & one from father.
Wrote a leter to Father & one to Mrs.
Ware Charles Foster came to see me from the 9th Corps
Saturday 21
Very raney & freezes some
all day Made a [clover] mark
for Conl Hazard.
Sunday, January 22, 1865.
Cloudy & foggy
recived a letter from home
Wrote one to Mr Lovering
Monday 23
Foggy all day
had a pipe of Thayer
Heavy firing on the right just before dark
Tuesday 24
Cule & windy
heavy firing all night
My box came from home
Worked part of the day
Wednesday, January 25, 1865.
Very cold the coldest of
the season. heavy firing last night to the right not much more
Thursday 26
Very cold the coldest
of the year went to the
14 Battery to see Tom Bennett & saw Ywin Lenard
Friday 27
Very cold
Worked part of the day had a leter from home & one from Anna Bennett
Saturday, January 28, 1865.
Very cold
Wrote a leter home
Wrote a leter to Anna Bennett
Sunday 29
Fine all day
had inspection of quarters
Monday 30
Fine all day
Worked hard all day
Tuesday, January 31, 1865.
Fine all day
Worked hard all day
Wednesday, February 1
Fine all day
The Capt went home on a furlough
Worked the most of the day. all hands drunk
Thursday 2
Fine all day
Wrote a leter to Cornelia
Worked part of the day
Friday, February 3, 1865.
Could & stormey
not much work for me
Saturday 4
Fine all day worked part of the day
Had orders to be ready to march at a moments notice
Sunday 5
Cloudy & windey
started at day light & marched to the left
had hard fighting but drove the Rebs
Monday, February 6, 1865.
Fine but cule
hard fighting to the extream left
had a leter from home
Shod Conl Hazards Horse
the 5 Corps back just at night
Tuesday 7
Began to snow at daylight
& turned into rain & rained all day. considreble fighting all day
the story is that the 23 Corps has relieved 9th Corps
Wednesday 8
Fine but windey
the Rebs keep still all day Wrote a leter home
Thursday, February 9, 1865.
Fine but windey
Finished a leter home
Went up to the Battery & shod
some horses.
Friday 10
Fine but some wind
Shod two horse for a
Staff Ofiser & got a [picture of canteen] of whisk. Went into camp & got a axx
James D Smith came back to the Battery
Saturday 11
Fine all day
had a letter from home & one from Anna Bennett yesturday. wrote a leter home & one to Anna Bennett. Went up to the Battery
Sunday, February 12, 1865.
Fine but windey & very cold
had a ration of whiskey
Went back to camp & got
the Battery Waggon
Whiskey
Monday 13
Fine but the coldest wether
that I ever saw in Va.
Sleep out on the ground
Tuesday 14
Very mudy & colde
Started a stockade but did not do much mended a crosscut saw
Whiskey
Wednesday, February 15, 1865.
Raney all day
tryed to work but it was to so marshy that we stoped.
had a leter from home.
Thursday 16
Cloudy with some rain
Bacon came up to the Battery. worked on my tent all day
Whiskey
Friday 17
Cloudy & rained just at night Bacon came up to the Battery. worked on my tent all day
Saturday, February 18, 1865.
Fine all day
Built a fireplace
had a monthly inspection
had a letter from Mrs Ware.
Charlestown evacuated Whiskey
serenderd by the [?]
Sunday 19
Fine all day with some wind. wrote a leter home. Wrote a leter to Mrs Ware
Monday 20
Fine all day
Fineshed my tent
Made a few stopipes
Whiskey
Tuesday, February 21, 1865.
Fine all day
Worked part of the day at the forge
Wednesday 22
Fine all day
Worked part of the day. hitched up just at night expecting the Rebs.
Thursday 23
Raney all day
not much goin on
the story is that the paymaster is coming
Friday, February 24, 1865.
Raney all night & part of the day
Recived a leter from Cornelia
the Pay master came & payed us four months
Saturday 25
Stormey all day
Stayed in the tent all day
Sunday 26
Stormey
Recived a leter from home. Wrote a leter home went over to the 14th Battery & saw Burton
Monday, February 27, 1865.
Fine all day. Worked hard all day. my wait is 178 pounds.
Tuesday 28
Raney all day
Staid in the tent all day
Wednesday, March 1
Some foggey but no rain had a leter from Father
Sheridans Victory in the Valley
Thursday, March 2, 1865.
Raney all day
not much goin on staid in the tent all day. Shook for a watch & win it for 00.50 cents
Friday 3
had a leter from home & wrote one home
Raney all day
Stad in the tent
Saturday 4
Rainey all day
part of the day
had four pictures taken. Mended a hinge for Head quarters
Sunday, March 5, 1865
Fine & windey
had a full mounted inspection Wrote
a leter to Father
Mugford & D. Parker came back to the Battery
Monday 6
Fine all day
Worked hard all day on horses.
Tuesday 7
Fine all day
Worked hard all day on horses
Wednesday, March 8, 1865.
Raney all day
nothing goin on
Thursday 9
Raney the most of the day. all still but a move expected
Friday 10
Raney & windey
not much goin on
had a leter from home
Saturday, March 11, 1865.
Fine
Wrote a leter home
Worked all day shoeing horses
Sunday 12
Fine but windey
had a full mounted inspection
Wrote a leter to Cornelia
Monday 13
Fine all day
Worked on horses all day
Had a leter from H P Lovering
Tuesday, March 14, 1865.
Fine all day
Worked the most of the day Wrote to
H P Lovering
had marching orders
Wednesday 15
Cloudy & looks like rain. still in camp
Worked part of the day
had a leter from Anna Bennett
Thursday 16
Cloudy with some rain Wrote a leter home
Sent my overcoat to Washington
Friday, March 17, 1865.
Fine but windey Rained in the night. worked part of the day
Had a letter from home
Saturday 18
Fine but windey
Wrote a letter home
Hurbot Smith came over to see me
he has inlisted in the 9th
Sunday 19
Fine all day
had a full mounted inspection & a review
Monday, March 20, 1865.
Fine all day
worked part of the day
Lieut Georg M Townsend starts for home in the morning
Tuesday 21
Rainey the most of the day
Not much goin on
Wednesday 22
Fine but very windey
Drawed 20. Horses
Thursday, March 23, 1865.
Fine but windey
Recived a leter from home Wrote a letter home Wrote a letter to Anna Bennett
Friday 24
Blowed the hardest I ever saw it
Worked some but the wind blowed to hard
Saturday 25
Fine & cule. Very heavy firing on the right the Rebs brook throu but had to go back A big fight out in our front S Kiney started today home
Sunday, March 26, 1865.
Fine all day
Worked hard all day
evry thing seams still
Recived a leter from home
Monday 27
Fine all day
Wrote a letter home
Worked hard all day
Tuesday 28
Fine all day
Worked hard all day
& part of the night
had orders to march
had a letter from home & one from Cornelia
Wednesday, March 29, 1865.
Cloudy but warm
Started on the march at 7 o'clock to Waring Station & stayed all night some fighting to the left
Thursday 30
Raney the most of the day some fighting but the put us back
Friday 31
Rainey but cleard off before noon & the fighting comenced & was very heavy all the rest of the day
Saturday, April 1, 1865.
Cloudy & cule
Wrote a letter home
not much fighting through the day
Sunday 2
Fine all day
Very heavy firing all day night up to the right. had a letter from home & wrote one home
We took 15.000 prisnors
Monday 3
Fine all day
Started last night & marched back to P[?] Station. Started & marched 8 miles down the South Side RRoad
Tuesday, April 4, 1865.
Cloudy but no rain
Started in the direction of Burks vill Station Marched about 8 miles & went into park for the night
Wednesday 5
Fine all day
Started & marched to Wellville Station
28 miles from PetersBurg
Thursday 6
Cloudy with a little rain
Marched all day & went into camp 4 miles from Burks vill station
Friday, April 7, 1865.
Cloudy with some rain
Marched to Burksville Station & went into camp for the night
Saturday 8
Fine all day
Started & marched to Farmville near the Linchburge R.R.
Sunday 9
Fine all day
Not much fighting
but a leter Home
Lee surenderd to Grant
Monday, April 10, 1865.
Raney the most of the day
all still throw the day but just at night the nuse of Seces surender came to the Bells rung & the Bands played in Farmville
Tuesday 11
Cloudy with some rain
Wrote a letter home
Started from Farmville
& marched to Burksville Station
Wednesday 12
Fine all day
received a letter from home & one from Mrs Ware
Thursday, April 13, 1865.
Raney part of the day
the troops keep coming in. Wrote a letter home
Friday 14
Fine all day
Wrote a leter to Mrs Ware Went up to the Battery for the first time since we left Petersburge
Saturday 15
Raney
The Rebs keep coming in on the Railroad
Sunday, April 16, 1865.
Fine all day
not much goin on
Monday 17
Fine all day
Worked hard all day
Tuesday 18
Fine all day
piched tents all day
Wednesday, April 19, 1865.
Fine all day
Evry thing still for the Presadent feurnal at noon thair was 21 guns fired in honner of the Presadent
Thursday 20
Cloudy part of the day
Wrote a letter home
Worked shoeing all day
Friday 21
Fine all day
Worked hard all day
Shoeing horses
Saturday, April 22, 1865.
Fine & very warm all day.
Worked hard all day on horses
Sunday 23
Cloudy & cule
Had a full mounted inspection (monthly)
Received a letter from Father & one from Anna Bennett
Monday 24
Fine all day
Worked all day
Tuesday, April 25, 1865.
Fine all day
A salute was fired in honer of the presada Presadent 13 guns in the morn & on evry ½ hour throu the day. no work
Wednesday 26
Fine all day
Received a letter from home Worked part of the day Elbudee Thrasher of Garie died in the hospital
Thursday 27
Fine all day
The funurall of Thrasher at one oclock
Wrote a letter home
Friday, April 28, 1865.
Fine all day
Not much goin on
Saturday 29
Fine but windey a shour
Not much gon on
Sunday 30
Fine all day
Was musterd for two months pay
Monday, May 1, 1865.
Foggy Rained in the night the hardest I ever saw it. Received a letter from home
Tuesday 2
Fine all day
Turned in the timber chests had orders to march Started at 4 Oclock & marched about 11 miles
Wednesday 3
Fine all day
Started at 5 Oclock & marched untill 3 oclock & went into park for the night
Thursday, May 4, 1865.
Fine all day
Started at ¼ of six & went into camp at 4 Oclock for the night
Friday 5
Raney part of the day Started at 7 Oclock & went into park in sight of Richmond
Saturday 6
Fine all day
Started at ½ past 10 & marched through Richmond
Sunday, May 7, 1865.
Fine all day
Started at 5 oclock & crosed the Pumekey just at night & went into park for the night
Monday 8
Fine all day
Started & marched to Chesterfield Station
Tuesday 9
Raney the most of the day. Started & marched within 5 miles of Fredksburge
Wednesday, May 10, 1865.
Cloudy but no rain
Started & marched through Fredksburge & crossed the Rphanock & went into park 2 miles the north side of the Potomack @ creek
Thursday 11
Cloudy all day a heavy shour just at night & lasted the most of the night. Started & marched about 16 miles
Friday 12
Fine all day
Started & marched to within 3 or 4 miles of Arlengton hights on Monsons Hill
Saturday, May 13, 1865.
Fine all day
Started & marched to Monsons Hill
Sunday 14
Fine all day
Layed on Monsons Hill all day
Churches wife came to camp
Monday 15
Fine Moved all day
Moved about 2 miles & went into camp for good
Tuesday, May 16, 1865.
Fine all day
Cimeon Taylor came to see me
Wednesday 17
Fine all day I went to see Cimeon Taylor came to see me
Thursday 18
Fine all day
Wrote a letter home
Friday, May 19, 1865.
Raney the most of the day had a letter from home with a picture of my children
Saturday 20
Raney
Cimeon Taylor came to see me
wrote a letter home
Sunday 21
Fine part of the day
Monday, May 22, 1865.
Fine all day
Tuesday 23
Fine all day
Review of the armey of the Potomack
Went to see Aaron Bennett
Wednesday 24
Fine all day
Shermans armey reviewed
Thursday, May 25, 1865.
Cloudy but no rain
Worked part of the day
Friday 26
Raney all day
Hurbot Smith came to see me
Saturday 27
Raney the most of the day Had
a letter from home
Sunday, May 28, 1865.
Fine all day
Wrote a letter home
Monday 29
A heavy shour last night but fine today
Tuesday 30
Fine all day
Wednesday, May 31, 1865.
Fine all day
Turned the Battery in got back to camp at 11 oclock at night
Thursday, June 1
Fine and very warm all day
Friday 2
Fine & very warm all day
Saturday, June 3, 1865.
Fine all day
Started for home
Sunday 4
Fine all day
Arived in New York just at night & took the boat for Norwitch New London
Monday 5
Fine but cule
Arived in Norwitch New London in the morning & started for Boston
Went to Galloups Island
Tuesday, June 6, 1865.
Fine but cule
Wrote a letter home
the 9th Battery was mustard out of the United States
Wednesday 7
Fine all day
Went down down on the beach & dud dug clams
Thursday 8
Fine all day
not much goin on
Friday, June 9, 1865.
Cloudy the moste of the day. the 9th Battery got their discharge. We was mustard out of the United States
Wm Herring
Newton
U Falls
Mass
Coat 17.00
Pants 8.00
Boots 5.00
Shirts 6.00
Stockins .50
Pipe stems 1.00
Colars .50
Cap 1.50
39.50
Pipe stems
Walter
Picture frame 17¼ + 20¾
William H Clark
Plainville
Conn
(Care of T F Clark)
2nd Fall of Peters Burge
March 14th
L Pierce lent me 1.50
James Dwight
paid 00.50 for me
lent me
Leroy E Hunt
Feb 24 00.52
lent me
Georg P[?] April 1 1.00
H W [?] .50
A Tompson 17.00
Pierce
Sold Leroy Hunt
a poor ring for 2.00
March 14th/65
John H Stephens $10.00
March 9th 1865
F A Chase 1.50
Miss Alice Voze
47 Austin St
Worcester
March the 3rd 1865
sent Wm Haring
$4.50
Oct 1st 1864
lent James Suats
$3.75
Aug 17th 1864
G Goodwin
Lent him
$5.00
Aug 17th 1864 lent
E F Wilson
$1.00
May 1863
lent B. Carlen
$20.00
May 1863
Lent S E Aldding
$25.00
Haring to
Length of shoe
round the heal is
8 inches
Misai
Talte
Rensor
Vesal
C F Shults
285 River
Street Troy
NY
A. B. Fisher
Rutland
Mass
DATABASE CONTENT
| (14812) | DL0989 | Diaries | 1865 |
Tags: Alcohol, Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, Camp/Lodging, Carolinas Campaign, Defeat/Surrender, Discharge/Mustering Out, Fighting, Furloughs, High Morale, Mail, Marching, Payment, Peace, Photographs, Siege of Petersburg, Supplies, Weather, Work
People - Records: 1
- (5176) [writer] ~ Fisher, Alvan Bennett
SOURCES
Alvan B. Fisher Diary, 1865, DL0989, Nau Collection
