William J. Murphy Diary, 1861
William J Murphy
Danbury
Conn
Company C
First Regament
Captain
E. E. Wildeman
Wm J Murphy
Danbury
Conn
Tuesday, January 1, 1861.
Wednesday 2
Stern Kelley
28 Stewat Street
Thursday 3
Percy Davis
Church
high street
Monday, January 7, 1861.
Patrick McDonough
orange
Valley
Tuesday, April 16, 1861.
company
Friday, April 19, 1861.
Capt E A Wildman Company E left danbury this day and reached the place of rendezvous New Haven
Saturday 20
the company drilling to day
on [?] it this
nic plase
Sunday 21
went to church nice sermon in the morning Psalms 20. and 5 verse and drilled in the eveing
Monday, April 22, 1861.
drilled all day and sworn in the afternoon and Wm H Blessart reached to day
Tuesday 23
I drilled all day and was put on guard at night
Wednesday 24
encamped out this [faded] first day twelve men in a tent it rained this night I slept well
Thursday, April 25, 1861.
I drilled all day and was on guard at night it was and it was verey coul night
I was very slppey
Friday 26
I drilled 6 hours to day my feet is all blister we go 2 miles a day to our meles
Saturday 27
I drilled 5 hours and travel 3 miles to our meles I felt well after supper we have been mad presented of new testament by a cetesan of New Haven
Sunday, April 28, 1861.
I got up this morning wash my face and went to breakfast & came back & we and regment was all drawn up in a line It rain in afternoon and at night
Monday 29
Yesterday we wore our new overcoats to day we have been inspected for all the fitting out we need, have drilled 6 hours had supper of bread & pork
Tuesday 30
A number of fellows from Hartford this morning on the guard I went down town to get more to eat they wer court marcialed this afternoon one sargt will lost his office we drilled 6 hours
Wednesday, May 1, 1861.
the order was given while we wer eating to fall in for regemetal parade to hear orders they wer that those privates who run the guard should be deprived of their uniforms & dismised from the services the 2 Sargents wer reduced to the ranks we drilled 6 hours
Thursday 2
to day an addition of 1 hour was put onto our regular drill duty making 7 hours we had pork beans bread for dinner but not near enough as usual we got our napsack
Friday 3
we drill 7 hours it was very cold we received our shoes by going down town this afternoon when we come back stoped at the court house & brought back our uniforms we had codfish charder for dinner
Saturday, May 4, 1861.
As it rained to day we had a general holiday went down town spent our time as we felt disposed went to get some thing to eat. we drill 2 hours
4 Oclo & received outfit of uniforms
Sunday 5
to day our Com is detaled guard for 24 hours 2 wagon loads of provisions for the soldiers which they wer not long in consuming the most of them being pretty hungry
Monday 6
we did not drill to day it rained all day meeting was held in Danbury about the scantiness of our rasions it made quite an excitement in camp
Tuesday, May 7, 1861.
the camp was nerly drowned out last night consequence of the rain of the rain wich drove them out of tents I slipe with Mr Wicks
Wednesday 8
the next to camp
drilled in manel exercise in forenoon the after noon armed regmettal parade the colors was presented to the regment by ex Gov Catlin & was [?] to by Col Tiler
Thursday 9 10
We steamed out of New Haven harbor about 10½ Oclock PM went out at the east end rounded [?] point about 2 Ocl AM during the day we had fine wether untill 6 Ocl when it commenced to rain the sea was very ruff & many was sick
I have made mistak and wrot in 9 in plac 10. Thurs we lef the camp about 4 Oclock & reach the boat name Binville
Saturday 11
we entered Chespeak Bay rounding Cape Charles at 8 Oclock AM entered the potomac about 2 Oclock PM saw nothing of importance except the green vegetasion on the shores of verGinia & Maryland and several ships all of whic showed there colors
Sunday 12
Came to anchor during last night at day break we started at 8 Oclock we passed mount vernon ½ hour after passed Fort washington then Alexandria secession flag fliing reached was N. yard 1½ Oclock
Monday, May 13, 1861.
planed to go into encampment to day Started at 11 Oclock for a 3 mileds march to the camp it was very warm & many dropped out of the rancks from fatigue 2 men was brought into camp they died reported that one was shot the other poisoned
Tuesday 14
150 men have been detaled to clean the grounds of trees & fences for the convenience of the troops the men was to tired we only had to drill 4 hours to day mounting guard & receiving baggage ocupied the day
Wednesday 15
the 2nd regt has arrived & marched to their quarters ner us to night 7 of us have been down to the capitol we went through the principal rooms but time was so precious we did not have time to see much
Thursday, May 16, 1861.
Commenced the practice we are to follow of getting up at 4 Oclock AM & drilling 1½ hours before breakfast making 7½ hours a day besides dress parade in eving it been very plesent wether here to day
Friday 17
drilled the usual hours Hon O. S. Ferry has been here today & francked several letters for the company to night we have received our straw ticks several of us feel sleeping on the ground
Saturday 18
Several of the boys have been absent at roll call for a punishment the wer set to picking up stones on our parade ground one man refused to do it was put in the guard house
Sunday, May 19, 1861.
I am detaled for guard duty to one man was taken for fireing a pistol whin he was tolde to stop he fired more the Corporal attempted to take it from him then he attempted to shoot him but mised over him
Monday 20
I was relieved from guard at 9 Oclock & went down town till 3 Oclock visited the patent office post office & capitol I went to the top of the capitol but it was so foggy I could see but little ways
Tuesday 21
[?] to fall at 8 Oclock this morning it is very muddy it butiful wether to day every thing is in full bloom
Wednesday, May 22, 1861. minutes
drilled the usual time in the forenoon in the after noon we 2 companies of us went out targit was the size of a man we put 41 bullits out of less then 200 [?] good shooting for the distant 200 yars
Thursday 23
we drill as usual it has been very plesant here to day about 7 Oclock order was given by Col Tiler to pack up evry thing we had to march at 5 minutes warne we got red but was dis[?]
Friday 24
to night orders wer given for us to lay on our arms with knapsacks packed ready for a march at 5 minutes 4 men from each comp have been sent to Georgetown returned at 10 PM
Saturday, May 25, 1861.
the 4 men from each com wer wer called out for Georgetown again at 10 1½ Oclock we At 11 Oclock AM long role sounded for us to fly to our arms in 20 minutes after we wer ready for a march we marched to the long bridge to it proved to be a falce alarm we went back agane
Sunday 26
we are generally commented on our proptness in responed to the call to day I wrote to my Brother & one to my wife it have been very warm to day here
Monday 27
to day it has been read to the Regt that Col Tiler is promoted to Brigdea Gen. Burman is now Col. a man got shot by his own pistel droping out of his pockit.
Tuesday, May 28, 1861.
2nd & 3d regt have to drill about 7 hours a day we drill about 5 hours a day to night it was read at dress parade that the three camp regt would be formed in to a Brigade commanded by Gen Tiler
Wednesday 29
we drilled 6 hours to day one of our men David Sloan from Bethel was court marcialed for leaving grounds & staying 9 hours sentence imprisonment 3 days with hard labour
Thursday 30
It is stated that Gen Tiler talked rather harshly to Col Arnold in consequence he has resigned. the new bake oven has all fallen in
Friday, May 31, 1861.
we drilled as usual dress parade at dress dress parara order was that our Leu Col Chatfield was promoted to Col of 3 Regt
Saturday, June 1
there has been trouble in the 3rd Reg about the promotion of our Leu Col to Col of their regt Col Arnold belonged we wer under arms all the afternoon ready to [faded] in the arrest of officers if they opposed orders
Sunday 2
At dark we wer ordered to be ready to march at 12 Oclock we went to work cooking & packing up at the hour we wer ready & formed in single line & marched off through the citty as quite a crod the long bridge to virgenia
Monday, June 3, 1861.
our destinasion as we now know bents past Arlington near 7 miles from Washington we relived the NY 12th our camp is on the premeses & in building of a Secession who we have yet under guard We are now shifing our tents further back in the woodes
Tuesday 4
last night we wer called up to receive 30 rounds of cartridges and an alarm was given that we would probaly be attacked before morning the baggage wagons was got ready
Wednesday 5
last night we wer expecting to march as soon as order we received which we expected about 12 Oclock to day I have been on picket guard 2 miles from camp it rained very hard till 2 Oclock
Thursday, June 6, 1861.
It has been raining all day had no drill guard mounting was the onely exersise of the day the presant sistem of guard takes about one half of the men. they are prety tired from their duties.
Friday 7
we wer ordered out to drill at 9½ Oclock for 2 hours great dissatsfaction was manifested that we should have so much duty. In afternoon the guard was reduced one third, as it was taking off to many men
Saturday 8
this morning many are sick 16 are on the Doc list from this company A Secession spie he is thought to be was caut by our pickets last night. this afternoon he has been carried to Alexandria
Sunday, June 9, 1861.
this morning we had to cleare streets & equipments preparetory to sunday morn inspection afternoon I got off guard by having on a corporals coat & went bathing in the canal
Monday 10
to day the governer of Conn. & the Prs of U.S. reviewed the troops gave Gen & Aids visites there is trouble in the camp about the Col burman been drunk
Tuesday 11
Col has been off the grounds all day 4 officers wer arrested for getting a little tite we drill as usual and it was very warm
Wednesday June 12, 1861.
men have been to work a few days past fixing the Soudan & Hamshire RR we wer quite animated to night after dress parade by a train going past with a detachment of the NY 69 Regt on board
Thursday 13
men have been & are surveying the rest of was are now on this line of RR the cars are running over this end of the that we have got possesion of quite often they are reparing the bridges & roads
Friday 14
the picket guard arm in one of them had a hole in his coat he sayes he shot at some one & it is reported was return to night it is reported that harpferry is evacuted
Saturday, June 15 19, 1861. wednesday
have been without eating from yesterday noon till 6 Oclock PM to day except some pie & cake bought by those having money for the comasary was reported at PM that the enemy was marching on us
am detaled as guard to day the 8 regt battery has all arrived they have placed those guns commanding the woods here the baggage horses wer left harnessed all night we poseby expect
gen tiler has appointed our Leu Col & the 2nd regt major as exclusive directly skirmishing parties which are out every night all night to support the picket should they be atack
what has been of the most interest to the men to day was the receiving of the bounty money from the state together with the pay for the time spent at rendezvous before they sworn in to the service
this morning I was detaled for to go on the skirmishing 150 men are on every night we went about 2 miles out we had a butiful night of it. tore my pance go thru bushes
I have been on picket guard to day & night nothing occure of importance. the 2nd regt was fireing while on duty as usual & a horse broke loose from wagon & run toward farfax the Sentinals fired 2 at him
this morn at 5 Oclock 2 ohio Regt arrived & are quartered near us, a scouting party of 60 men went up on the cars to see how far they could get instead of drilling we put up telegraph wire & cleaned an encampm of the 2nd Ct
Saturday 22 16 Sunday
much excitement 400 men with field officers went on special train to reconnoitre comeing back they was fired on to & one man shot through the shoulder our men caut 2 prisoners one of them supposed to have shot the man
Sunday 23 17 Monday
At 11 this morn one of the Ohio regts went on an explosin expedision 16 mils up. they was fired into by a masked battery 500 are missing we have had to march to washington for review on our way back [?] was [?]
tuesday Monday, June 24 18, 1861.
we were notified of the ohio Regt danges at our camp we formed & had orders to get our supper as soon as possible the long role sounde at 10 PM We then marched to the cars & we brought up part way & marched hear to fauls Church where we have staid all day
Tuesday 25
A cavildry men comeing into camp this afternoon reported that 6 or 700 session troops are laying off about 9 miles outside of our pickets the Gen & aids have gone to see about it
Wednesday 26
Orders was read at Dress parade to drill at skirmishing ½ hours each day
things is quite warm to day
Thursday, June 27, 1861.
to day I have been home guard I had I had a butiful day for it I wrote letter to James Clark and I received a letter from my wife with 2 dollars
Friday 28
the camp was much enlivened by the catching a secession soudier by our company this afternoon he has been taken to washington. to night out in sail
Saturday 29
the camp was very quite to day nothing go on but we wer inspected and order wer givein for shoose & canteens
Sunday, June 30, 1861.
to day I was detaled for to go on guard at home it rained very hard about 3 hours I was wet true I thought it was purty way to go to church [?]
Monday, July 1
to I run the guard and went down to falls Church vileg and I see the old church that Washington ust go to on the Sabut to meeting
Tuesday 2
to day we drill a scirmish a bout 2 hours and we had nothing more to do it has been very warm day
Wednesday, July 3, 1861.
to day I have been on picket guard about 2 miles from the camp and it was so cold that I could not get warm at night
Thursday 4
we had quite a time here to day we raist flage here and Band plade severl peces and it was a butiful day things was very quite here
Friday 5
we had a skirmishing drill about 2 hours and we had to go by the sound of the bugle
Saturday, July 6, 1861.
we drill skermish to day 3 hours about fifty of us had a prair meeting 7 Oclock I liked very much that prair meeting things went on quite
Sunday 7
we had meeting about 4 Oclock back of our tents and they ware 2 young ladys to meeting it has been very warm today
Monday 8
I was on picket guard I was station at the head quarter with Capten E. Wildman I had a very good time
Tuesday, July 9, 1861.
things was very quite to day in afternoon it rained very hard and it run thru the tents and wet us
Wednesday 10
I was on guard to day in afternoon it rained very hard and I got weat true in the fore noon it was warm enough to melt any one
Thursday 11
yesterday they take a inventory of all that we got from the State and it create a greate excitement in camp
Friday, July 12, 1861.
we drill as usual nothing gs on but taking of farefax 2 regt caught 2 of rebel and they brught them in the camp
Saturday 13
to day I was on picket guard and it rained purty much all day I had a letter from George Spencer and from John
Sunday 14
we had prair meeting about 4 Oclock it has been a very warm and had shour of rained
Monday, July 15, 1861.
yesterday we had skermish drill and run about 4 miles and some of them was so warm they could not eat
Tuesday 16
yesterday we left camp McDowell and came to vinia 12 miles and we had to skermish the day was very warm and we camped out on meadow
Wednesday 17
to day came 2 miles of farefax we came to there camp Germantown 2 miles north of farefax at 11 PM came Centervill
Thursday, July 18, 1861.
to day we had a fight about 3 miles north of Centervill a place call Bullsrun and last about 3 hours to night we slep in groun and it rain
Friday 19
Centervill we stad here to day wating for 2 morter cannons we ware all ancious to march but order did not come and
Saturday 20
to day 4 canons came here they ware for the picken lynes and rifl can 32lbs there ware butiful locing guns
Sunday, July 21, 1861.
this morning we started 2 Oclock and went 2 miles west of Centervill we got there at 4 Oclock and stade there 7 Oclock fight come 6 Oclock and continued till 2 p.m. then we came back to Centervill
Monday 22
we lef Centervill 8 Oclock and got to camp McDowell and got ther 5 Oclock in the morn 20 miles then we had breakfast and we had to stay all day in the rain to see our baggage and at night in some other camp near R.R.
Tuesday 23
we came to the Ohio boys camp and were now body to tents and had to carr all baggage and we lef it 6 Oclock & came Georgetown
Wednesday, July 24, 1861.
we got to Georgetown 8 Oclock and stade all night and the NY Regt left in the same way and we had to see to the tents then we left for Washington 4 St
Thursday 25
we left at 2 Oclock and went down street then we left our arms there and march back a gain to RR we started from at 12 Oclock the Ohio Boys
Saturday, July 27, 1861.
Aug 3. 1871
pining 6 days
pining 7 days
lot 5329
lot 5325
6 doz at 80 ct
lot 4824
4 Doz 80 ct
Tuesday, July 30, 1861. 71
Augt 15
Blocking 12 Doz
15 12 Doz
6 Doz
37 hats
bot 153 72 hats
bot 130 72 hats
bot 131 72 hats
bot 161 36 hats
73 hats
72
72
Friday, September 13 17, 1861. 71
last Drink
Cash Account.—February.
Augt
16 Blocking D. 60 oz
17 Blocking D 60 oz
18 Blocking 120 oz
14 Blocking 120 oz
30 oz
Cash Account.—November.
Francis W. Platt
Cold Spring
Conn
Cas George Allen
Danbury
Conn
Benjamin F Skinner
Danbury
Conn
Andrew B Nichols
Redding
Conn
Cash Account.—December.
H. W. Gibbs
Danbury
Conn
Charles A Benger
Pound ridge
Westchester Cou
N.Y.
Eli D Subey
Newtown
Conn
Wm J Murphey
Danbury
Conn
Wm J Murphy
B F Skinner
C A Benger
F W Platt
Douglas
cartridges
sterns
stearns
[scribbling]
DATABASE CONTENT
| (4255) | DL1936 | X.1 | Diaries | 1861 |
Diary of Private William P. Murphy, 1st Connecticut Volunteers, April 19, 1861 to July 25, 1861; re: drilling, training, sickness, President Lincoln, First Battle of Bull Run at Manassas
Tags: Animals, Artillery, Bounties, Camp/Lodging, Clothing, Courts Martial, Death (Military), Drilling, Duty, Excitement, Fatigue/Tiredness, Food, Guard/Sentry Duty, Guns, Hygiene, Illnesses, Marching, Money, Nature, Picket Duty, Prisoners of War, Promotions, Railroads, "Rebels" (Unionist opinions of), Religion, Resignations, Rivers, Ships/Boats, Supplies, Weather, Work
People - Records: 1
- (4989) [writer] ~ Murphy, William J.
SOURCES
William J. Murphy Diary, 1861, DL1936, Nau Collection
