Daniel Sweetland Diary, 1864

January, Friday, 1. 1864.

Morning rainy & chilly

Snow nearly all gone

Self came off guard at 9

Faired off & grew cold

before noon. All very quiet

through the day Self had

pass till 4 PM. Night

extremely cold

Got letter from Wife of 27^th

Saturday, 2.

Morning the coldest

of the season camp

guard on all night for

the first Day very

cold, air thick & Rain

and some cloudy with

indications of snow

Should it moderate

Night very cold

Sunday, 3.

Morning cloudy and

a little warmer. Faired

off Some at 9 A.M.

Self attended church

in forenoon

Took dinner at Hoffmans

Dress parade at 4 PM

Night cold & cloudy

Got letter from Marlyn

and wrote to him

January, Monday, 4. 1864.

Morning cold and

cloudy. General

time Cleaning guns

for $10.00 prize

Self attended church in

evening several moved

forward, one soldier

Night stormy of snow

Wrote to Wife

Tuesday, 5.

Morning Snowing from

North East Continuall

nearly all day slightly

Night cloudy & cold

Sleighing good though

not more than 2 inches

of snow. Self attended

Church at night Several

hopefully converted and

many others M[?]s

Wednesday, 6.

Morning clear and cold

Self on guard in Town

Day fine warm and

thawed some Provost

marshal Rock to confis

cate liquor at Rising

Sun, & one other place

Several tight on guard

Night clear & pleasant

Very quiet in Town

Thursday, 7.

Morning clear and

very pleasant though cold

off guard at 9 A.M

Day pleasant but did

not thaw much

Everybody restricted to

stay in camp unless

a pass give to 5 only

Self went to church at night

Friday, 8.

Morning snowing snow

two inches deep cleared

off before noon quite

comfortable Lieutant

Schaumbug & others went

to Reading to court Marshal

Self attended church at

night good time Night

very cold & clear

Sent paper to Wife

Saturday, 9.

Morning clear and cold

No guard mounting

King Came back from

home to day Day very

clear and cold

No commissioned officer

for company All quit

Self got Portfolio at 50^cts

night clear & very cold

No church to night

Got letter from Wife 3^rd

January, Sunday, 10. 1864.

Morning exceedingly cold

Inspection of arms at 8^1/2

Guns in fine order

No prize awarded

Self attended church

Day and evening

An Italian spoke at night

Night clear and cold

Wrote home to Wife

Monday, 11.

Morning very clear

Indications of a thaw

guard mounting at 9

Day very fair but didn’t

thaw much Nothing of

importance going on

Attended Lecture by an

Italian at night

Night clear and icy

beautiful & reasonably cold

Tuesday, 12.

Morning very clear

and quite cold

Day very fine

Self in charge of a

working party in Cols

quarters Thawed som

little through the day

Did not attend church

Took Sewart to guard house

Night clear and pleasant

Got letter from Rhoda 6^th

Wednesday, 13.

Morning very pleasant

Day cloudy & signs of snow

Usual guard mounting at 9

Carpenters at work on Cols

Barracks Not very cold

Substitutes sent to Phila

Self attended church at

Night Rev Post preached

Thursday, 14.

Morning clear & cold

Usual guard mounting

Thawed some through the

day Some went to Reading

to Court Martial

Did not attend church

Night cloudy

Wrote home to Wife

and to Niece Rhoda

Friday, 15.

Morning snowing

Cleared about noon quite

warm. Took dinner with

Hofman^s of Sourkraut

Quite fair at night

Self attended Lutheren

church at night the

hot meeting of the season

cleared off quite cold

with high wind a short time

January, Saturday, 16. 1864.

Morning clear & calm

and pretty cold

Usual guard mounting

Day tolerably comfortable

and spent in fixing up

for Sunday Self went

to Lutheren church at night

very good meeting

No letter from home felt sad

Sunday, 17.

Morning hazy & cold

Usual Inspection of

arms and persons

Went to church at 10

Excellent Sermon

Dress parade at 4 P.M

No passes to church at night

Night clear & pleasant

but lonesome to me

Monday, 18.

Morning Lowering & wet

Self on guard in camp

Rained all day

took guards off at 7 P.M

Put on part of guard

from 7 to 11 P.M

Stormed all night

All quiet in camp

Received $5.00 by letter

got letters from Wife & Marlyn

Tuesday, 19.

Morning Rainy & warm

guard mounting

Several Subs sent to Phila

Faired off some at noon

Turned cold blustering

with a little snow at night

and pretty cold Haberstroh

& Ryan had fracas at 11 P.M

Wrote to Wife

Wednesday, 20.

Morning cold & rough

Usual guard mounting

Last nights difficulties

Settled by 1^st Lieut

thawed some through

the day night fair

got letter from Andrew

Wrote to Andrew

Wrote to Marlyn

Thursday, 21.

Morning cloudy

Orderly went to Phila

with Subs Nothing

of interest going on

Self in charge of Co

in afternoon

Night quite cold

Several went to church

Reported an interesting time

All quiet

January, Friday, 22. 1864.

Morning cloudy & cold

Thawed some through the day

Pay Rolls came and

were signed by Company

Pay expected tomorrow

Night clear & pleasant

but quite cold. Some

of Boys obtained a Sick

Saturday, 23.

Morning clear & cold

usual guardmounting

Garrett & Walter had

fight at 11 AM

Companies A & B were

paid to day Paymaster

moving roll out

Night fair not very

cold

Sunday, 24.

Morning cloudy and

looked like rain

Self attended Lutheran

Church very interesting

sermon Did not

have Dress parade, too

muddy Did not

attend church at night

Night cloudy

Wrote to Wife

Monday, 25.

Morning some cloudly

Guard mounting in

grand style. Lots of

Stringent orders. Several

went to Reading to

attend Court Martial

Day quite warm and

muddy Self went to Church

at night got letter from Wife 17^th

Tuesday, 26.

Morning warm and

cloudy. Self in camp

guard at 9 AM

Day very fine and

warm but muddy

Night clear & frosty

Very quiet guard

Chased out a whore

and caught some boys

Wednesday, 27.

Morning clear and

fine off guard at 9

Stayed in camp all

day & evening

very warm, mud

drying up fast

not much news nor

mail night quiet

and pleasant some

went to church

January, Thursday, 28. 1864.

Morning clear & very

fine Usual guard mount

ing at 9 Self got pass

till 10 P.M. Day

extremely pleasant

Rumors of the return of

the 148^th Pa Regt to morrow

Got letter from Marlyn 24^th

Wrote to Mrs Benham

Friday, 29.

Morning clear & warm

usual guard mounting

Day very fine but muddy

Cavalry came hom

our Battalion went

out to meet and greet

them through Town

All got very tired

Night dark and quiet

not much news

Saturday, 30.

Morning cloudy and

misty ~~Self on guard~~

King Serg^t of guard

Day lowring & muddy

Near 80 Subs sent to

Philadelphia Nothing

heard from paymaster

Wrote letter and verses

but did not send them

Got letters from Wife

Andrew & Besom

Sunday, 31.

Morning fogy & very

muddy having Rained

nearly all night

Self & others attended

Lutheren Church, and

took dinner at Ingers

Fire in Town last night

4 houses burned Attended

Baptist church at night Two

were converted

February, Monday, 1. 1864.

Morning rainy & Dark

No guard mounting

Warren went home on furlough

Self in charge of company

attended Polyorama

at night Scenes fine

got letter from Marlyn

Sent off letters to Wife and

Marlyn. Wrote to Andrew

Tuesday, 2.

Morning cloudy & warm

usual guard mounting

very muddy in streets

Co E received their pay

through their Captain

News that the 48^th P.V.

were coming tomorrow

Several went to Polyorama

at night Mail light

News unimportant

February, Wednesday, 3. 1864.

Morning snowing briskly

No guardmounting

Self on camp guard

48 P.V. Regt cam in at 2

Battalion went out to

Escort them through Town

Self did not go Ceased to

snow at 12. Night cold

all quiet in town

Thursday, 4.

Morning clear & cold

off guard at 9 A.M

Snowed some to day

Stayed in camp

Pay Rolls sent to Capt

in order to get money

Night clear & pleasant

Questo fell from bunk

hurt quite bad

Got letter from Wife of 31^st

Friday, 5.

Morning clear & not very

cold. Usual guardmounting

Day quite warm and

very muddy Vroman

returned at night

Deserter Haskins came

back also General

muss in town Camp

all up at midnight

Night dark & misty

Wrote home to Wife

Saturday, 6.

Morning Damp and

Disagreeable & very dark

all day. Guardmounting

as usual. Self attended

church last night M.E.C

No passes to night

All quiet in Town

Lieut Col Boyd assumed

command. Mail light

Sunday, 7.

Morning cloudy & muddy

Usual inspiction of arms

and quarters by Lieut Col

Self & others attended

M & L Church Sacrament

at L Church No passes

at night General dis-

satisfaction Rumors

that one co is to move

Got letter from Niece

Monday, 8.

Morning cloudy & spitting

of snow but not cold

Usual guardmounting

with increase of guards

Two Co^s in marching

order but no move

Dress parade at 5^1/2P.M

Night clear & cold

All very quiet

mail very light

February, Tuesday, 9. 1864.

Morning quite cold

Co^s B & E left for

Hectorville at light

Co D were paid off

at 2 P.M. Guards

wer reduced to 30 men

Some spitting of snow

Night quite cold

Wrote home to Wife

Wednesday, 10.

Morning cold and

squally through the

day Self on

camp guard

Only guards enough

for three posts

Treat lost his money

Night very cold

Got letter from Andrew

Thursday, 11.

Morning clear & cold

No guardmounting Self

got pass til 5 PM

Expressed $75 home

Day warm & pleasant

Col Boyds orders very

Stringent. Several tight

and in guard house

Night clear & comfortable

Mail very light

Friday, 12.

Morning warm & cloudy

Mallick died at hospital

last night of small pox

Buried to day No regular

guardmounting. Mallick

buried at 12 N

Drill at 1 P.M

Attended funeral of Jimmy

Campbell at Episcopal Church

at 3 P.M Night pleasant

Saturday, 13.

Morning clear & pleasant

No regular guardmounting

Day very fine & warm

No drill or dress parade

Quite a time getting tight

Several in guard house

Two tied to flag pole at night

Night clear & warm

Wrote to Wife & Andrew

Got letter from Wife

Sunday, 14.

Morning some cloudy

but very Spring like

day quite windy fm west

Inspection of arms at 8

Squad for church Self did

not go but had charge of Co

Self went to church

at night Supt at

Hoffmans Night

cold and windy

all quiet

February, Monday, 15. 1864.

Morning clear & cold

Self on camp guard

Day cloudy and some chilly

Night more pleasant

Some disturbance in Town

but nothing very serious

All quiet in camp

Exept 2 or 3 women

Mail very light

Tuesday, 16.

Morning snowing, wind

South west. No guard

mounting. Grew cold

toward night & Stopped

snowing Ten passes a

day ordered by Lt Col

Night raining cold

guards suffred much

Not much mail

Wednesday, 17.

Morning fearfully cold with

high N-west wind

General Sigel visited

us in Barracks &

ate a chunk of Bread

Day the coldest of the

Season & night the same

guards taken off at night

All quiet in Town

Got letter from Marlyn 12

came from Knoxville

Thursday, 18.

Morning very cold but

clear and still

No guardmounting

Day pleasanter & pretty cold

Self on guard at night

in place of King. He

being under arrest

Night very clear & cold

Friday, 19.

Morning cold but clear

off guard at 9 had pass

till 3 P.M. Got paper

and other things for self

Some disturbance in

town at night. Our co

called up all nonsense

Pretty cold at night

Got letter from Wife

Saturday, 20.

Morning some cloudy

& not quite so cold as

yesterday Company E

returned from Hectorville

Corp Besom returned

from home at night

All quiet in Town

Quota filled for Borough

by recruits. Night quite

cold but still

Wrote home to Wife

February, Sunday, 21. 1864.

Morning some hazy

Regular guardmounting

with inspection of arms

Self and others afternoon

Lutherean Church. Had

an excellent sermon

Attended Trinity Church

at night Preached to Soldiers

Wrote to Niece Rhoda

Monday, 22.

Morning cloudy & warm

Celebrated the day as

the birth day of Gen

Washington. Full drill

by Battalion, Orderly

went to Reading Self

in charge of company

Rained slightly at night

Mail very light

Tuesday, 23.

Morning very fine & warm

Usual guardmounting

& squad to Philadelphia

Company drill at 10 AM

and also at 3^1/2PM

No dress parade at 5^1/2

Day extremely fine

Prisoners at work on

Camp grounds Ryan

first to liberty pole

Wednesday, 24.

Morning fine & warm

usual guardmounting

Drill at 10 AM by

squads. No drill at

3^1/2P.M. Dress parade

at 5^1/2P.M Squad to

Philad^a with Recruits

Sprinkles of rain through

the day. Night clear

Co^l Oliphant Returned

Thursday, 25.

Morning clear & fine

but frosty, guardmounting

at 8^1/2 AM. Company drill

at 10 one man in Co D for

drill. 60 men Recruits for

48^th com on night train

brought to camp & released

Self out on pass at night

Mail light. night Dark

Friday, 26.

Morning stormy of snow

Self on camp guard

Day very stormy till

3 PM. No drill or

Dress parade, prisoners

all drunk. Night cold

clear & windy

Snow nearly an inch

All quiet at night

Got letter from Wife

February, Saturday, 27. 1864.

Morning clear & cold

No guardmounting

No drill, cleaning

up of Barracks in after

noon Capt VanDerliss

came to visit us

Got letter from Andrew

Wrote to Wife

Sunday, 28.

Morning cloudy

Inspection of arms at 9

Self attended Lutheren church

with small squad

Dress parade at 5^1/2 PM

None went to church at night

for fear of disturbance

Night very dark

~~Wrote~~

Monday, 29.

Morning cloudy & misty

Mustered for pay at

9^1/2AM. 48^th had

parade in town &

at old camp Gill

No passes given at night

Night very dark

Ross & Lents to Fenton

[?] their [?]

tomorrow

Wrote to Andrew

March, Tuesday, 1. 1864.

Morning stormy of snow

No guard mounting

Self on guard at Town

Some 60 Recruits sent to Phila

36 taken in to guard house

Stormed all day &

part of night very quiet

in guard house Dougherty

had fits from 8 till nearly 2

very little news

Wednesday, 2.

Morning clear & not very cold

Off guard at 9 36 Recruits

sent to Philadelphia

Day quite warm & thawing

Col. Oliphant quite sick

Nothing of importance

going on. Some few

in Barracks playing Drunk

Self had pass at night

Mail very light

Thursday, 3.

Morning quite cold

guardmounting at 8^1/2

Col. some better. His

family & Physician

came to see him

Day very fine & warm

Lieut Col Boyd returned

to duty small squad

of recruits sent to Phila

Night pleasant

March, Friday, 4. 1864.

Morning clear & pleasant

Filled ticks with new straw

Four prisoners sent Washing

ton in Irons

Day warm & cloudy

Got 2 Recruits fm Reading

Some disturbance at night

Got letter from Wife 28^th

Wrote to Wife

Saturday, 5.

Morning cloudy & warm

Had guardmounting at 8^1/2

Rained nearly all day

No guards around camp

More Recruits sent to camp

Part of 48 Pa left to day

Attended L meeting at night

Night dark & dreary

All quiet in town

& camp. Mail light

Sunday, 6.

Morning cloudy, ground

frozen, Inspection at 9^1/2

guardmounting at 8^1/2

Self on camp guard

Day chilly & cloudy

Many went to church

Day and night

all very quiet

Nearly all prisoners

Released. Night quiet

but dark

Monday, 7.

Morning cloudy, ground

frozen. Cleared off at

9 AM Off guard

at 9 AM Prisoners

Released from Provost guard

house. Two companies sent

to Schuylkill Haven. All quiet

there. Got letters from

Andrew & M^cConnell

Tuesday, 8.

Morning cloudy. Co D Left

Schuylkill Haven at 11 AM

on foot Reached Pottsville

with 4 prisoners at 2 PM

Had difficulty in town

took 3 soldiers prisoner &

released 1 Hoffman shot in

hip with pistol The rascal

taken into custody

Self on camp guard at night

Wednesday, 9.

Morning cloudy & frosty

Some disturbance in town

last night. Nothing but a few

stones thrown into the De^m

Standard office Sentences

of several Invalids read off

at Dress parade. Co E returned

from Schuylkill Haven

Prisoners at work on grounds

of camp Off guard at

8 P.M. tired enough

March, Thursday, 10. 1864.

Morning cloudy & frosty

Usual guardmounting &

working of prisoners

on camp grounds

All quiet in town

Day & evening

Night dark & dreary

got letter from Wife

Wrote to M^cConnell

Wrote to Wife

Friday, 11.

Morning lowring

no guardmounting

Rained nearly all day

Very muddy in camp

Some drunk on riding

wooden horse

Night very dark & wet

All very quiet in town

mail very light

News unimportant

Saturday, 12.

Morning some cloudy

Ground frozen some

Self on camp guard

Regular guardmounting

Day quite warm

All quiet in camp & town

Guard sent to Democat office

at night No demonstration

by 48th Night cool & pleasant

Mail light

Sunday, 13.

Morning cloudy & frozen

off guard at 9 AM

usual Inspection of arms

Some went to Church

Self went at night

Day quite fair in part

Night cool & pleasant

No Disturbance in town

Stafford Sick in quarters

Built Hospital for small pox

Monday, 14.

Morning frozen some

Usual guardmounting

Stafford taken to hospital

48^th went off at 3 P.M

King had fracus with 3 or 4

at noon. King all right

Cooper died at dusk

at Hospital

Night very pleasant

and all quiet

Tuesday, 15.

Morning clear & frozen

guardmounting at 8^1/2

Self bad cold for 2 or 3 days

Recruits sent to Philad^a

Snowed slightly in after

noon Dress parade at sun

set. Night clear &

cold Stewart sentenced

to work on public works

Wrote to Andrew

mail light

March, Wednesday, 16. 1864.

Morning cold ground

frozen very hard

Guardmounting

R Cooper buried with

military honors at 1 P.M

Squad Drill of non

commissioned officers

Self had pass at night

All quiet Court in session

Some one sentenced to be hung

Thursday, 17.

Morning quite cold

Self on camp guard

Saint Patricks day

thoroughly in town

Day very fine

Prisoners at work around

camp Drill at 2 PM

Night cold & quiet

in Town & camp

Mail very light

Friday, 18.

Morning cold & clear

guardmounting at 8^1/2

Drill at 10 Day

very fine till just

at night then misty

Rumored that we move

soon, One company came

to relieve us as Supposed

Sergt. Ross returned

very little mail

Saturday, 19.

Morning clear & cold

Guardmounting with Knap

sacks. All excitement a

bout moving to Washington

or Elsewhere Day cool

& clear. Several very

tight at night.

Night clear & pleasant

No mail for me at all

Wrote home to Wife

Sunday, 20.

Morning some hazy

Inspection with Knapsacks

Self on camp guard in

place of King. Day very

cold and Disagreeable

but dry. King reduced

to Ranks at Dress parade

all quiet in town & camp

nearly all went to church

at night. very cold

Monday, 21.

Morning cold & hazy

usual guardmounting

Got orders to move in a

day or two. General

preparations being made

Self out on pass at night

went to Circle of U &c

Night very pleasant but cold

got letter from Wife

March, Tuesday, 22. 1864.

Morning clear and cold

No guard mounting

New guns given us

Day spent in preping

to move tomorrow

Quite cold & cloudy

All great at night

Tenth N I came at night

Got letter from Rhoda

Wrote to Wife & Andrew

Wednesday, 23.

Morning very cold

All excitement being very

busy preparing to move

Left Barracks at 12^1/2 P.M

Marched to Depo and

took the cars about 2

Large concourse of people

in attendance, Reached

Harrisburg at 12^1/2 AM

Night very cold but pleasant

got suppr at Retreat

Thursday, 24.

Morning clear & cold very

uncomfortable in cars

Reached Little York at day

break. Got a long very

slow. Reached Baltimore

at 2 PM Took dinner

and started on at 8 PM

Reached Washington at 10^1/2

Went into Barracks near

by & slept on floor

Osborn sick with Rheumatism

Friday, 25.

Morning cloudy & dreary

We eat at Soldiers Retreat

Spent time loitering about

Depo & Barracks till 2 PM

Started for Camp Relief at

3 P.M. Rained some all

the way (about 3 miles from

Depo Found barracks very

filthy. Night rainy

Saturday, 26.

Morning windy cool &

cloudy Had camp guard

Day spent in making our

Selves and quarters as

comfortable as possible

Rained by spells all day

Got no Bread at all

Night very dark & windy

Two or three Boys went to

Town and got punished

got letters from Wife & Benham

Sunday, 27.

Morning clear & cool

Inspection at 9 AM

Self on camp guard

Day extremely fine

and warm. Every thing

quiet & Sunday like

Night comfortable and

pleasant, and all

very quiet on Potomac

Wrote home to Wife

March, Monday, 28. 1864.

Morning clear no frost

off guard at 9 AM

Self not very well

Lame back & all over

Rumours of a move

in a day or two

Day very fine & clear

Night dark & camp also

~~Wrote to Andr~~

Tuesday, 29.

Morning cloudy

Self went to city in

fore noon. Heard from

Osborn. Some better

Day windy & cloudy

Rained all afternoon

and night. Very dark

All quiet on Potomac

Got letter from and

Wrote to Andrew

Wednesday, 30.

Morning snowing, wind

on East, snowed till

three PM Moved

to 7^th Street Barracks

Found them new and

very convenient

Had a tedious bad

day of it. 140 men

sent on city guard

Got all fixed up at night

Thursday, 31.

Morning cool & cloudy

All rested finely in our

new Barracks.

Self on Camp guard very

poor quarters & filthy

Went into Barracks at night

Day and night quite fair

and all quiet

Wrote to Niece Rhoda

April, Friday, 1. 1864.

Reveille at 6 A.M

Morning some cloudy but

not cold. Off guard at 8^1/2

caught cold, nearly sick

Rained all afternoon

Sent 132 guards to several

stations in City. Also

camp guard of 24 men

Rained all night

All quiet Mail light

Saturday, 2.

Morning stormy of Rain

and snow No guard

mounting. Only camp

guard, City guards did

not get in till afternoon

Rained & snowed all day

Man from Mass trying

to get recruits at 4.00

or 20 per month

Night very stormy

Wrote to wife

April, Sunday, 3. 1864.

Morning cloudy

and very wet & muddy

Usual camp & city

guards. Inspection at 9

Day very drying but cloudy

No chance for going to Church

Got orders to move to

camp Distribution tomorrow

Night cloudy & Dark

Not much mail

Monday, 4.

Morning hazy, Light

camp guard. Preparations

for moving at noon

Every thing ready at ten

30 waggons in the [?]

Reached Long Bridge at 1^1/2

Commenced to Rain at 4^3/4

Arrived at Distribution

camp at 4^1/2 Put on guards

at 6. Rained all night

Tuesday, 5.

Morning Rainy & Dreary

Guardmounting at 8^1/2 AM

Self on guard over prisoners

with 3 Corps & 51 men

Every thing strange & odd

4 or 5 mustered Deserters

to guard Rained all

day and all night

No Disturbance of any

amount

Got letter from Wife 30^th Mar

Wednesday, 6.

Morning wet & lowring

Cleared up at 9 PM

Off guard about 10 PM

A good deal of talk about

Reenlisting for Mass. at

425 bounty. 12 or 14 put

down their names.

All things very quiet

Night very pleasant

Wrote home to Wife

Thursday, 7.

Morning clear & pleasant

Had Re^t and grand

guardmounting in Regular

army style with a N[?]

Day very fine & warm

visit Capt Mesnard of the

25^th O. at night Good visit

Inspection at 5^1/2 PM

Night clear & fine

Wrote to Mrs Benham

No Mail

Friday, 8.

Morning clear & fine

Regamental & Grand

guardmounting 9 to 10

Recruits Drilling in several

camps Self not as well

as usual from Lameness

Dress parade at 5 PM

Col. Oliphant arrived

at 6 PM Greeted him

with cheers & Respect

No mail All quiet

April, Saturday, 9. 1864.

Morning Cloudy & damp

usual guardmounting

Guard lines strengthened

Commenced to rain at 9

Rained all day steadily

Some cavalry went out

to the front News rather

unimportant. Rained

all night. All quiet

3 days Mail came in

Sunday, 10.

Morning cloudy & muddy

Inspection at AM

Self on guard at camp

and over prisoners

day some cloudy & chilly

Every thing went well

Night quite dark

Went grand Rounds at 12

All quiet as usual

Got letters from Wife & Andrew

Monday, 11.

Morning cloudy & cool

Off guard at 10 A.M

Rested & slept most of AM

Captain went to Washington

for examination

Day quite fair & warm

Night pleasant in part

News unimportant

Some reenlisted men examined

Others went for their discharge

and muster in furlough

Tuesday, 12.

Morning quite fair

usual guardmounting at 9

Self visited fort Barnard

in time of Target practice

Day very fine & warm

about 250 Deserters brought

to camp at night from

N york. Lieut gone to Washington

to be examined. Wrote to Wife

and Andrew

Wednesday, 13.

Morning some cloudy

usual guardmounting

Self visited 25^th at 9 to 10

Boys caught some fish—

very good for supper—

Rained slightly at 5 PM

More than usual guards

required Troops coming

Briskly & Deserters brought

in daily Night pleasant

Thursday, 14.

Morning quite fair

Self on out side camp

guard, with about 90 men

3 to 400 Deserters brought in

Took 80 men for that guard

& 20 men to guard working party

Day tolerably warm & fine

Night clear & pleasant

No out break, but some

hid in wood pile No news

Mail very light

April, Friday, 15. 1864.

Morning very pleasant

off guard at 9^1/2 A.M

Day cloudy & comfortable

Tiding up papers for those

that Reenlisted

Dress parade at 5 P.M

More Troops & Deserters came

in, One prisoner escaped

Rained at night Roll call

All quiet Mail light

Rained all night

Saturday, 16.

Morning raining & dismal

No guardmounting

Sergt Zenz returned last night

Rained all day slightly

and part of night

No dress parade or Inspection

Every thing quiet in camp

News of loss of Fort Pillow

Got letter from Osborn

Got letter from Wife of 10^th

Sunday, 17.

Morning wet & lowring

Usual guardmounting &

Inspection of Quarters &

arms (very much mixed up)

Dress parade at 5 PM

Rained four or five times

Slightly through the day

Nothing of importance passed

Night cool & fair

Got letter from Wife 11^th

Wrote home to Wife

Monday, 18.

Morning clear & pleasant

guardmounting at 8 AM

Inspection of arms & quarters

by Capt at 9 AM

Quartermasters Department

at 2 P.M. Dress parade

at 5 PM. M^cKelvey Band

played. Co F came last

night. Day very fine

Night cool Got letter from

Mrs Benham

Tuesday, 19.

Morning frosty & clear

usual guardmounting

Some 50 or more were

mustered in for 3 years more

Dress parade at 5 PM

Day fair and coolish

Night clear & pleasant

but cool, mail light

Self concluded not to enlist

Wrote to Wife accordingly

Wednesday, 20.

Morning clear & warm

usual guardmounting

Dress parade at 5 PM

2 Companies came in

from St Louis, 2 Ditto

of 21^st Regt left fr Washington

Reenlisted men got pay

at night Cloudy and

coolish at night

Mail very light

April, Thursday, 21. 1864.

Morning cloudy & cool

Self on guard at

Deserters Barracks

Some left for Regts

Over 60 came in

About 200 out at work

Another company of V R

cam in to camp

Got letter from Andrew

Friday, 22.

Morning clear & warm

off guard at 10 AM

63 Deserters sent to Regt

200 sent off to work

Afternoon cloudy

186^th Co left us for Washington

Dress parade at 5 PM

Several came on from hospital

at Pottsville, Fickinger dead

at Washington on the 20^th

All quiet. 25^th O left for

Foley Island

Saturday, 23.

Morning very fine

usual guardmounting

M^cHenry returned from

furlough. Coopers things

sold at auction Sold well

Furloughs came for 7

Reenlisted men Self

got Shirt, 10 cents.

Night quiet & pleasant

mail light. Scrubbed floor

Sunday, 24.

Morning very fine

Guardmounting at 9

Usual Sunday inspection

Day very warm for

the Season Dungrow

got his Discharge

Grub getting intolerable

Brad Coffe Pork quite bad

Troops moving forward

Mail light None for me

Monday, 25.

Morning rainy & all night

Cleard off at 9 A.M

All troops on the move

Several Reenlisted went

home for 30 days, Burnsides

Corps camped near at

night, 40 or 50 cos

Rained slightly at 3 P.M.

Night clear & quiet

No mail for me. very light

Tuesday, 26.

Morning cloudy & warm

Self on guard around

camp Burnsides troops

Browsing in all day

to Express things home

But very quiet. One

prisoner shot in leg for

running from guard

while at work Warm

Wrote to Wife & Andrew

April, Wednesday, 27. 1864.

Morning very warm &

pleasant Off guard at 10

Burnsides Corps moved

off at 10 AM for the

front. Over 100 pieces

of Artillery passed &

some 40 or 45000 men

Lowring toward night

Night dark All quiet

Mail very light me none

Thursday, 28.

Morning cold & quite clear

usual guardmounting at 9

No news of importance

Day clear but chilly

Prisoners at work as usual

Ditching, piling wood &c

Dress parade at 5 PM

Night quite cold but

clear and pleasant

Got letter from Wife of the 21^st

Friday, 29.

Morning clear & frosty

Usual number of

guards Ross Chief Sergt

Day clear & pleasant but

coolish Greenman returned

from Hospital at Pottsville

No important news

Usual Target shooting

at the forts. Night

cold but clear & pleasant

Mail light None for me

Saturday, 30.

Morning cloudy & warm

usual guardmounting at 9

Self on outer guard

Regular muster day for

pay with knapsacks

afternoon lowery. Night

dark & disagreeable for the

Grand Rounds Every thing

quiet in and out of camp

Got letter from Wife of 24^th

May, Sunday, 1. 1864.

Morning cloudy & warm

Company Inspection at 8

& guardmounting at 9^1/2

Self off guard at 10 A.M

Preaching in camp at 2

Day fine & warm

Dress parade at 4 P.M

Night clear cool & pleasant

News unimportant

~~Wrote home to Wife Lengthy~~

Monday, 2.

Morning chilly & cloudy

usual guardmounting

Nothing unusual transpiring

Dress parade at 5 P.M

Heavy Thunder shower

from 6 to 8 PM

Rained all fore part of

night. Guards taken off

Not much war News

All quiet in camp

Wrote to Wife Lengthy

Got letter from Rhoda

May, Tuesday, 3. 1864.

Morning clear & cold

and windy & very drying

Self and Squad of 4

took 20 prisoners Deserters

to Washington 19^th St on

camp Barry all safe

got back at 8 P.M

pretty tired, one got

tight & troublesome

Night clear & coolish

Wednesday, 4.

Morning cold & hazy

Usual N^o of guards and

Working of Deserters imp-

roving camp grounds &c

Rev T. N Cayler gave

a temperance lecture in

the evening. Very good

Several signed the pledge

Night clear & coolish

All quiet in & out of camp

Thursday, 5.

Morning clear & cold

usual number of guards mounted

Hastings and others went

to Washington Reenlisted

and got Bounty & back pay

day very fine News

that Grant had moved

forward Col Boyd returned

All quiet in camp

Got letter from M^cConnell

Wrote home to Wife

Friday, 6.

Morning some cloudy

but warm. Nothing unusual

only guardmounting at 8 A.M

Day extremely warm

Self and Culver sat for

photographs in forenoon

News that Army had crossed

Rappahannock & Rapidan

Burnsides wounded seriously

Night fine & warm

Saturday, 7.

Morning cloudy & warm

Self officer of guard

very warm & muggy

Guards complained very much

Cannonading to be heard

from the front No news

to be relied upon only

that a fight is going on

Night clear & quiet

Got letter from Wife/2^nd

Sunday, 8.

Morning very warm

Self off guard at 10

Usual inspection at 8

Took a long sleep from 11 to 4

Dress parade at 6.30 PM

Day very warm

Some war news but

nothing definite. Our

troops best so far

Some cannon to be

heard at night

May, Monday, 9. 1864.

Morning cloudy and

warm Corp Matthews

went home Discharged

Self finished up guard

for Ross. Relieved at 10

News coming in of the

defeat of the Rebs at

wilderness by Grant

Day very hot Thining

at night. Got letter from

Andrew

Tuesday, 10.

Morning clear & sunny

Guardmounting at 8^1/2

Lieut in charge of Guard

Got Photographs and

sent them off

Brombaugh came in

from Pottsville Hospital

Wrote to Wife & Rhoda

and Hoffman Pottsville

with pictures

Wednesday, 11.

Morning warm & cloudy

Self on camp guard

or outer guard, day

warm but airy

News of late battle com

ing in favourable to us

Burns & others Court

Martialed Rained at

night Guard taken off

Bought watch $15

Night dark warm

Thursday, 12.

Morning cloudy & misty

Guards relieved at 9 A.M

Rained from 10 to 4

Several fine showers

Favourable News from

Grants army Steady

onward moves Heavey

losses Night hazy

Wrote to Mrs Benham

Got letter from Wife of 8^th

Friday, 13.

Morning Rainy No

guardmounting. Rained

till about 2 PM

War news encouraging

Report that the Rebel Genrals

Johnson and Stuart

are prisoners in our lines

Night warm & cloudy

Some straglers came in

from front, All quiet

Saturday, 14.

Morning cloudy & cooler

usual guardmounting

War news continued good

Maj Johnson Returned

Left watch to be repaired

got new jacket & stripes

very little rain to day

Night coolish & cloudy

Every thing quiet

Wrote home to Wife

definitely on Reenlisting

May, Sunday, 15. 1864.

Morning lowery

Inspection at 7^1/2 AM

Self on outer camp guard

Day cloudy & not very hot

Some 400 paroled prisoners came

in from paroley camp. Some

of them taken at Gettysburgh

Rained heavily from 3

to 6 most of time

Night cloudy & warm

Monday, 16.

Morning warm & muggy

Off guard at 9 AM

Got watch from Jewelers

all right. paid $1.35 for

cleaning Not much

war news to day Troops

of all kinds being sent

forward. Dress parade

Night coolish & foggy

Wrote to Andrew

Tuesday, 17.

Morning thick clouds

and foggy till 8 AM

usual guardmounting

and working squads

of prisoners around

camp grounds & streets

very light war news

and unimportant at that

Troops left fort Barnard

at 12 Midnight

Night very fine

Wednesday, 18.

Morning some cloudy

Guardmounting at 7^1/2 AM

most of deserters and others

sent off to front

Self washed jacket & pants

Heavy shower at 3 PM

Rained by spells till 6 No

Dress parade Heard Sigel was beaten

at Strasburg Night cloudy & quiet

Wrote home to Wife (song)

Thursday, 19.

Morning cloudy & coolish

Usual guardmounting & policing

Day tolerably fine and warm

Hoffman transfered to Co H

Ross 8 others talked of Reenlisting

But finally failed. Slight

army news good Mail

very light Dress parade at 6

Took a wash in creek

Night very pleasant

Friday, 20.

Morning very foggy

Self on guard around

Deserters camp

All quiet through day

180 taken out to work

Day very warm & smoky

Estes shot two deserters

at night wounding one

Seriously the othr in face

Not much war news

Got letter from Wife of 15

May, Saturday, 21. 1864.

Morning clear an foggy

Usual guardmounting 8

Off guard before 9

Cos J & I 21^st Regt left

2 other companies came

at 6 P.M Day very hot

Some militia from Ohio

camped near at night

Osborn returned to Co

Stiff & lame, news light

Sunday, 22.

Morning warm & smoky

usual Sunday inspection

at 8 Day very warm

Shower in afternoon

Self had swelling under arm

Did not go to Dress parade

News that Lee is retreating

Night coolish & pleasant

Got letter from Hoffman

Wrote home to Wife

Monday, 23.

Morning cloudy & cool

Usual guardmounting & policing

Day not very hot but comfortable

Heard that Col Lee commands

a militia Brigade near here

Self did out washing

Ross went to see Lieut Col

Eastman of 166^th Militia

Not much war news

Rumoured that Lee is on

retreat Night pleasant

Tuesday, 24.

Morning cloudy & cool

usual N^o of guards mounted

Day extremely hot

All lolling around Barracks

Self had swelling under left arm

pretty sore No important news

from the front Dress parade at

6 PM slight shower at 8^1/2

Night coolish. Good sleeping

Wrote to Wife Birthday Lesson

Wednesday, 25.

Morning cool & comfortable

Co K came into camp at 6 PM

Self sore arm pit & excused

Good news from Grants Army

Lee retreating to Richmond

Butler repulsed Beauregard

on Saturday night Deserters

sent to Alexandria

Night pleasant had Serenade

Got letters from Andrew & Marlyn

Thursday, 26.

Morning rainy muddy

No guardmounting

Rained nearly all day

Self almost confined to Barracks

Sergt Hart, OConner, Jones,

Gorman King came back

from home on furlough

Heard that the 55^th Ohio has

lost heavily lately

Night cloudy & drizzly

All quiet No war news

May, Friday, 27. 1864.

Morning cloudy & coolish

Usual number of Guards

Mounted. Day quite

clear and not hot

No news from the army

Self some better of Boils

No important news but nothing

discouraging Night clear

Heard of the Death of Capt Wickler

by letter from Wife of 22^nd

Saturday, 28.

Morning clear & coolish

usual guard parade

Self excused from duty

one Boil better another coming

Day coolish & cloudy toward

night Had company drill

at 5 PM No Dress parade

Capt VanDerliss returned

from Ohio Lieut Nerthens

went to West Va Fabourable

war news nothing decisive

Sunday, 29.

Morning quiet cool & chilly

Usual Sundays inspection

Needham, Petterhoof, Kewson and

M^cConnell came to see me

Self went to fort ward with

them and saw many of

the Huron Co. Boys Crosby a

mong them Had first rate

visit Day very comfortable

Night pleasant & clear

Got letter from Andrew from

Washington

Monday, 30.

Morning clear & warm

usual guardmounting at 7^1/2

Genral inspection at 11 AM

with Knapsacks & heavy order

visited fort Ward again

Boys left for fort Berry

all well Day very warm

News from Grant very

favourable, 15 miles from

Richmond Wrote to Wife

Tuesday, 31.

Morning clear & warm

usual morning parade at 8

Self went to see Andrew

found him well & hearty

at Cliffburn Barracks D.C.

Had 2 hours visit & chat

Day very warm indeed

Got back 1 hour after time

Got reported, soon released

Night very pleasant

June, Wednesday, 1. 1864.

Morning very fine

Guardmounting at 7 AM

Reenlisted Boys went home

on furlough. Needham

paid me a visit Went

around camp Distribution

Self went in afternoon

to fort Berry and Albert

quite sick News very

light Dress parade at 6

Day hot, Night cloudy

June, Thursday, 2. 1864.

Morning clear & pleasant

usual morning parade at 7

Clouded up early in the day

Visited Militia found Albert

Crosby quite sick. Nedham

got his papers and left for

home Osborn & Wilde

Discharged & went home

Night cloudy & lowring

Wrote to Wife by Needham

Friday, 3.

Morning clear and warm

guardmounting at 7 AM

visited Albert and found

him some better Day

very warm & clear

War News favourable

Got 2 pictures taken

Dress parade at 6^1/4 PM

Night clear & pleasant

Wrote to Marlyn, sent pictures

Saturday, 4.

Morning cloudy & cool

usual morning parade

Day somewhat cloudy

visited Fort Berry twice

found Albert some better

War news continued good

Had a general Scrub of Barracks

Self did out washing

Night cloudy & coolish

All quiet on camp

Got letter from Wife of 30^th May

Sunday, 5.

Morning cloudy & misty

Usual Sunday inspection

at 7 A.M. No inspection

of Barracks at all to day

Self went to Alexandria

with squad of 47 prisoners

Back at 6 P.M day

very warm but cloudy

Night quite cool & quiet

Wrote to Andrew Gage

quite sick

Monday, 6.

Morning foggy & coolish

Co^s F & D 21^st Regt left

for Philadelphia at 8

Day remarkably hot

Crosby & Gage some better

Self in charge of company

Orderly at Washington

Heavy shower & blow at 5 PM

Night cool & cloudy

Wrote home to Wife &c

Tuesday, 7.

Morning cool & cloudy

2 Sergt from Co D on guard

Self Boils troublesome

Zenz sick in afternoon

Disturbance at fort Albany

at night. Our Regt called

out at 10 P.M. all quiet

when we got there Night

clear cool & pleasant

Not much war news

June, Wednesday, 8. 1864.

Morning coolish & cloudy

24 men & 2 Corps for guard

Self in charge of Co

Day quite warm but comfortable

Had a visit from Dr Sykes

and A Crosby & others

Hazelett discharged Hastings

went home on furlough

Karr made Orderly, Zenz sent

off sick, Night cloudy

Thursday, 9.

Morning lowry & coolish

Guardmounting as usual

Hazelett went home. got

news of Old Abrahams

Rennomination.

Day very warm

Heavy shower at 6 P.M

and became cooler

No Definite war news

Wrote home to Wife

Friday, 10.

Morning quite cool

Self on outside guard

Day comfortably cool

Boils some better but troublesome

Maryland Regt & others left

for the front. Nothing

important from the seat

of war Hoffman discharged

Day quite cool and

Night chilly & cloudy

Got letter from Wife

Saturday, 11.

Morning cloudy and chilly

off guard at 8 AM

Boil on arm very

painful. others coming

Visited Fort Berry

Albert quite well again

Day cool & comfortable

News unimportant

Night clear cool & quiet

Got letter from Mrs Benham

Sunday, 12.

Morning clear & cool

usual N^o of guards and

Sunday inspections

Self excused from duty

visited Fort Berry found

most of Boys there well

Gage taken sick just at night

Dress parade at 5^1/2 P.M

Day coolish & comfortable

Night clear All quiet

Monday, 13.

Morning clear & cool

usual N^o of guards put on

Self excused from Duty

Boil better but arm bad

Day very cool & comfortable

Not much war news but

favourable Pay Rolls

came on & were partly signed

Night quite cool

Every thing quiet

Wrote home to Wife

June, Tuesday, 14. 1864.

Morning cloudy & cool

usual N^o of guards mounted

Burns & Hoskins Discharged

Sergt Brown of 166^th

came down at guardmounting

Regt paid off in afternoon

Day very cool & comfortable

No dress parade All quiet

with the Army of Potomack

Night quite cool

Wednesday, 15.

Morning clear & cool

guardmounting at 7

Self returned to duty

Boils still coming

Self sick in afternoon

Did not go to Dress parade

News that Grant had

crossed the James River

34 guns fired at Washington

Night very cool

Thursday, 16.

Morning clear & cool

Usual N^o of guards put on

Air quite smoky

Day warm but airy

No important war news

Self excused from duty

very weak Physic worked

but felt no better

Ross Self &c got shaving

tools $2.75. Night cool

Whiting Discharged

Friday, 17.

Morning clear & smoky

Every one on guard that

was off yesterday

Self unwell & excused

Day extremely hot

News of the taking of

Petersburg by Grant

Self some better at night

Night clear & beautiful

Not much mail

Saturday, 18.

Morning clear & warm

usual guardmounting at 7

Self excused from duty

Drew clothing to day

Self visited Militia. Got well

Day hazy and coolish

Night cool & quiet

Dress parade at 6 PM

Got list of killed in 33^rd Pioneer

Got letter from Wife 13^th

Sunday, 19.

Morning coolish & cloudy

Usual Sunday inspections

Self still excused from Duty

Boil on breast severe & not open

Stayed in quarters all day

Day cloudy in part

afternoon quite warm

Dress parade at 6^1/2 PM

Not much war news

Night clear & pleasant

Wrote to Wife sent $10.00

June, Monday, 20. 1864.

Morning quite cool

General inspection of

arms by Col Boyd

Had a visit from

Andrew. Went to

Fort Berry Had a good

time generally

Andrew well & hearty

Not much News

Day hot, night pleasant

Tuesday, 21.

Morning clear & warm

usual No. of guards on

New chances for Reenlistment

by Massachusetts $4,50

bounty. War News

indecisive but favourable

on the whole

Night clear & pleasant

Mail very light

Wrote to Mrs Benham

Wednesday, 22.

Morning clear & pleasant

All on guard that

were not yesterday

Self for duty again

visited Fort Berry Hays

all well. Day very warm

Some good war news

Trying to get Recruits

not much progress

Night very pleasant

Wrote to Rhoda

Thursday, 23.

Morning clear & coolish

Some guards sent to

West Virginia with troops

from camp Distribution

Day very warm

No dress parade Nothing

Definite from Grant

Night warm & pleasant

Got letter from Marlyn

Wrote to Wife lengthy sentiment

Friday, 24.

Morning warm & clear

Self on our Comp

guard The hottest

day of the season

No Dress parade

All quiet day & night

very pleasant

Some army news

of expectation mostly

Mail very light

Saturday, 25.

Morning warm & sultry

Off guard at 7^1/2 A.M

Day very hot Thermometer

stood at 98 in shade

Bought summer shirt

No definite war news

Dress parade at 7 PM

Night very warm

and pleasant

All quiet

Got letter from Wife/20^th

June, Sunday, 26. 1864.

Morning very clear & warm

Usual Sunday^s fixing

up for Inspections

Day very warm

Quite a shower at 3 PM

Some cooler Dress parade

at 6^1/2. News light

Night clear & warm

Wrote to Wife lengthy

Also to Andrew & one to

Marlyn

Monday, 27.

Morning nearly clear

usual N^o of guards put on

Self & Kenton went

to Cliffburn Barracks

found Andrew & Cutter

well. Very warm Showers

at 2 P.M. Returned at 6

Dress parade at 6^1/2 Quite

cool. Some war news. Good

& bad, Night chilly

Tuesday, 28.

Morning very cool

Self on prisoners guard

Reported to Lieut Stewart

Nothing for us to do

Remained idle all day

Day coolish & pleasant

Some interesting war news

Nothing decisive on

either side. All quiet

Night chilly but clear

Wednesday, 29.

Morning quite cool

usual guardmounting

Co H of the Militia moved

from Fort Berry to Richardson

Self quite unwell but

around & not excused

News of some successes

by our raiding armies

Mail very light

Night warmer & cloudy

Thursday, 30.

Morning some cloudy

had muster for pay

at 10 A.M. & general

inspection of Barracks &c

Rained some in afternoon

No dress parade

Not much war news

Night cloudy & warm

Wrote home to Wife

Got letter from Wife & Mrs Benham

of 25^th

July, Friday, 1. 1864.

Morning wet & lowing

No regular guardmounting

Orderly unwell

Not much doing Took

down a poll but broke it

So that we have no poll to raise

in our camp. No dress

parade. Not much war

News. Very little mail

Night very warm

Wrote to Mrs Benham

July, Saturday, 2. 1864.

Morning slightly cloudy

Self on guard at Distribution

camp. Exceedingly warm

Signs of rain at 3 P.M

Blowed over & some cooler

About 80 deserters brought

in, some 50 sent off

Dress parade at 7 P.M

Night clear & quiet

News unimportant

3 said to have escaped to day

doubt it

Sunday, 3.

Morning some hazy &

comfortable. Self off guard

at 8 A.M. Not quite

as hot as yesterday. Snoozed

most of the day

Dress parade at 7 P.M

News indefinite from

the front & elsewhere

Night clear & comfortable

Every thing quiet

Monday, 4.

Morning coolish & cloudy

visited fort Richardson

from 11 to 1. our Regt attended

flag raising & speeches

at 3 P.M No great affair

Dress parade at 7 as usual

All had till 10 PM

to attend fireworks &c

Ross & Self went to fort

Barnard Saw dawning

Back at 10 AM quiet

Tuesday, 5.

Morning very clear

usual guardmounting

& fatigueing Sold 2 Blankets

to Militia Boys Day quite

hot. Some air stirring

Every body feeling dull

News that Sigel is at the heights

and the Rebs in Maryland

1^st Brig V.R.C marching orders

No mail. No news from Grant

No papers to day

Wednesday, 6.

Morning cloudy & coolish

Some signs of Rain

Self on guard at Deserters

Camp. Day very warm

One of Co F shot

himself with pistol

Nothing unusual at

Guard nor in camp

News of the sinking the

Alabama & Raid to

Maryland by Rebs

Thursday, 7.

Morning some cloudy

Off guard at 8 A.M

Report of Rebs falling

back out of Maryland

Got orders to be ready

to march on that

notice. Adjutant

Henry took charge

of Dress parade

Boys returned from furlough

Wrote to Wife

July, Friday. 8. 1864.

Morning cloudy but warm

Drew 40 rounds of ammunition

& general preparations for a

march. All quashed before

noon. Orders Reversed

Day not quite as hot as

some Dress parade at 7

Conflicting war news from

Got letter from Wife/Marlyn

Saturday, 9.

Morning some hazy

Usual guardmounting

Great watch fever in camp

much trading by some

day quite comfortable

No definite war news

Report that Rebels left Maryland

Nothing from Grant

Night pleasant

Wrote to Andrew

Sunday, 10.

Morning cloudy

Self on outer camp

guard. Much Excitement

concerning the Raid

in maryland

Every thing turned

out of Distribution

camp through the day

and night No rest

all night Our Regt

got marching orders

Monday, 11.

Moved at 5 AM

Crossed long bridge &

marched up 14^th Street

and on to fortifications

Some skirmishing all day

We were marched nearly

to death. Very hot, but

good breeze Skirmishing

all night with little effect

We were not Disturbed

Tuesday, 12.

Morning quite clear & warm

We moved to Fort DeBussy

& thence to Fort Reno. Sent 30

men 2 miles out as pickets all

moved at 2 P.M 3 miles

to Fort Sumner & lay quiet

all rest of Day & night

Heavy Battle in front of Forts

Reno & Stevens from 6 to 8

Rebels fell back

Wednesday, 13.

Morning clear & comfortable &

very quiet Went into rifle pits

at Sun rise No enemy

in sight Reported at noon

No Rebels within 10 miles

Stayed in Rifle pits till

6 P.M Day warm but

not sufficating Nothing

definite in regard to last

nights fight as to losses

arrived at camp at 12 morning

July, Thursday, 14. 1864.

Morning clear & comfortable

All pretty stiff having

marched 12 miles last night

found all quiet in camp

Distribution though in

some fear of an attack

Remained quiet & resting

all day, Dress parade at 7

Rebels reported across Potomac

with their plunder all safe

No mail brought in

Friday, 15.

Morning cloudy & cool

Guardmounting at 8 AM

Mail sent out at 7

News that Pickets were driven

in at Fort Lyons to day

Orders to march there at 12

Started at 1 Arrived there

at 4 PM found all quiet

Slept on parade grounds

Night cool & no alarm

Saturday, 16.

Morning cool & smoky

No enemy in sight or to

be heard of Moved back

to a meadow & cooked dinner

Started back for camp

Distribution at 2 PM

met 84^th N.Y Militia going

to Fort Lyons Arrived

at camp at 4 PM

All quiet Day coolish

Got letters from Wife/Andrew

Sunday, 17.

Morning clear & warm

Self on camp guard

Day very warm Rumors

of another move soon

but nothing certain Quite

a large N^o of convalescents

left camp & many

Deserters & came in at

night. All quiet

Wrote home to Wife Lengthy

Monday, 18.

Morning clear & pleasant

Off guard at 8 A.M

Rested & Snoozed all day

Dress parade at 7 PM

Not much News from

the Army A general

time of Policing grounds

Rumoured that the Rebs

are at Bull run in

force. Night pleasant

Tuesday, 19.

Morning cloudy & warm

usual guardmounting at 7

Visited Fort Richardson at 8

Militia all very well

Subs. & drafted men sent off

to camp at

Day very warm Some

talk of our going to Lehigh

District &c Briggs left

for home Mail & news light

July, Wednesday, 20. 1864.

Morning some cloudy

usual guardmounting at 7

day exceedingly hot

Storm of wind but no

rain at 3 P.M

Drew Blouses in afternoon

War news favourable Reports

Atlanta taken by Sherman

Got letter from Andrew

Wrote to Wife & Andrew

Thursday, 21.

Morning a trifle cooler

Self on outer camp

guard, taking passes

Quite a good deal of travel

Some 60 or 80 of 6^th Corps

came in, as Streyes

Camp very full of all sorts

of Soldiers. All very quiet

News of the capture of much

of the Rebels plunder at Snicker

Gap & Winchester

Friday, 22.

Morning clear & cool

About 100 left camp at 4 AM

visited Fort Richardson all

well Gregorys Box came

by Express. Quite a Riot

in main camp at night

Our Regt. called out. Soon

all was quiet One man

wounded by Col. pistol shot

One Co stayed all night as guard

Got letter from Marlyn

Saturday, 23.

Morning clear & cool

Some extra guards put

on to day General inspe

ction in Marching Order

at 9 A.M. Day quite

warm. Squad of 100

men sent with 6 Corps

men to Tennellytown

Night cold but clear

No mail for me Good news

from Sherman at Atlanta

Sunday, 24.

Morning clear & very cold

Self on outer camp guard

Very short of guards Squad

returned at 2 P.M. Some

1500 men armed & sent

out of camp Distribution

Some others came in

Rained nearly all night

All very quiet in camp

Mail very light Me none

Monday, 25.

Morning rainy & some mud

No guardmounting. Usual

N^o of guards put on

Reorganized squads in Co

Afternoon quite fair

More good news from

Sherman. Non Com

School at 11 AM

No dress parade Some

troops camping near

Got letter from Wife Wrote

to Wife

July, Tuesday, 26. 1864.

Morning clear & warm

usual guardmounting of

usual N^o Target practise

at the forts Day very

comfortable Not much

going on. Rumoured that

the “Rebs” are at Harpers Ferry

and that we are to move

soon Night clear & quiet

Got letter from Andrew

Wednesday, 27.

Morning clear & comfortable

usual guardmounting

at 7. General turning

over of Surplus articles

such as Equipments &c

Quite an amount of

policing done Day

quite warm mail

light News indefinite

Wrote to Marlyn

Thursday, 28.

Morning clear & warm

Self on guard at Deserters

camp. Many Deserters and

Subs brought in and sent out

Picknick in camp from [?]

very busy day for guards

some disturbance soon

quieted Day very hot

Night clear & warm

All tolerably quiet

Got letter & Picture from Wife

Friday, 29.

Morning clear & warm

off guard at 8 AM

Full number of guards

Day very warm and

clear Old Boots failed

Got new shoes $2.05

Some sending home stuff

Nothing of much interest

[?] Mail light

Night very warm

Saturday, 30.

Morning warm & sultry

guard duty becoming

very heavy again

Organizing the men in

camp into companies

& Regts & moving them

out to camp & scrubbed

Barracks in the morning

Rumours of Rebs in Pa

Night warm & quiet

Wrote home to Wife

Sunday, 31.

Morning clear & warm

Self on outer camp

guard very busy day

So many troops moving

out & through Camp

Day very warm

Heard that Chambersburg

Pa was burned by Rebs

Some of the Rebs blown

up at Petersburg

Night very quiet

August, Monday, 1. 1864.

Morning some cooling

off guard at 8 AM

Day not quite so

hot Snoozed some

had non com school

News that Grant

had fallen back some

General feeling bad

Night clear & warm

Wrote to Andrew

Tuesday, 2.

Morning clear & warm

usual guardmounting

Day very warm & sultry

Army News unfavourable

Raiders advancing into

Penn, Grants losses

severe. Self visited Fort

Richardson, found many

quite sick Kesner died

Rained at 5^1/2 PM

Wednesday, 3.

Morning clear & coolish

usual number of guards on

Day not quite so hot as

yesterday. Nothing new or

encouraging from the

front. Reb Raiders some

what scattered & dispursed

Raised flag poll for Regt

Night very pleasant

and all quiet

Wrote home to Wife

Thursday, 4.

Morning clear & cool

usual guardmounting

Official news from Grant

better than the rumours

Day not overly hot

Ryan serving sentence

Night cool & comfortable

Wrote to Bunn

Got letter from Wife of 31^st

Friday, 5.

Morning clear & cool

Self & Ross on camp & Deserters

guard Day very warm

Nothing of interest transpiring

War news meager. Army

probably quiet. Some

signs of rain usual

dress parade at 7 PM

Night cloudy & warm

Everything quiet Mail light

Riley left for home

Saturday, 6.

Morning rainy from 4^1/2

till 7 A.M. Self off guard

at 7 Cloudy & coolish

Self visited camp Richardson

and several of the militia

boys quite sick with fever

Rained in afternoon

War news conflicting as

to the Raid in Penna

Night coolish & cloudy

Got letter from Mrs Benham

August, Sunday, 7. 1864.

Morning clear & pleasant

No inspection usual

N^o of guards Some have

left Distribution for [?]

19^th Corps. Self visited

militia Albert & others

no better. Ford dead

Day warm air close

usual dress parade at 7

Mail & news light

wrote home to Wife

Monday, 8.

Morning clear an warm

usual N^o of guards

Sheridans cavalry after

the Raiders. Self guard

to camp Taylor with

squad of prisoners.

Albert pretty sick yet

Got back at Sundown

Rumour of the Raiders

being on the retreat

Tuesday, 9.

Morning very smoky

usual guardmounting at 7

Karr acting Orderly &

fully appointed at Dress parade

visited Militia force & most

of boys better L. Daniels dead

Albert got better here [?]

all well News Rebs return

up the Shenandoah Valley

Got letter from Andrew

Wrote to Father Crosby

Wednesday, 10.

Morning clear & warm

usual N^o of guards

General policing by

prisoners. News light

and unimportant

Day very warm & sweaty

Mail rather small, some

troops moved off with night

Wrote home to Wife

Albert some better

Thursday, 11.

Morning some cloudy

Nearly all on guard not

on yesterday Self visited

Militia Boys Generally

better Albert a trifle wild

& fidgety. Sold 3 Blankets

Made $1.50. Day very

hot Signs of rain at night

Night coolish with Thunder

Got letter from Wife 7^th

Friday, 12.

Morning nearly clear

guardmounting at 7^1/2 AM

Sold one Blanket to Trinmer 50

Day quite hot but some

air stirring Albert still

better & others also

Nothing of importance

transpiring or in the papers

Dress parade only 2 off on

[?]

Night very warm

August, Saturday, 13. 1864.

Morning clear & warm

Self on outer camp guard

Guard short of men

Day very hot Showers

from 6 to 7 PM

very refreshing indeed

Night clear pleasant moonlight

Every thing very quiet

Got letter from Marlyn

Sunday, 14.

Morning clear & warm

off guard at 8 AM

very hot all day

Shower in afternoon

Flies so thick could

not stop at all

No war news No

Dress parade. Night

very hot air close

Got letter from Rhoda

Monday, 15.

Morning cloud & warm

More than usual N^o

of guards Day very hot

Rained some in afternoon

visited Fort Richardson &

Sold 2 Blankets at 3.00 pr

sick boys no better in some cases

Talk of sending worst ones home

Night very warm

Wrote to wife &c

Tuesday, 16.

Morning some cloudy

visited Seminary Hospital

Found Albert, Gunn and

Kester pretty bad. poor

prospect for recovering

Went to Fort Richardson

& sold 3 Blankets at $6.00

C Fethrhoff one at $3.00 to

be paid to Wife when he gets home

Night very warm & pleasant

Wednesday, 17.

Morning cloudy but warm

Guardmounting at 7^1/2 AM

Visited Fort Richardson

could hear nothing definite

from Albert nor Gunn. Cha^s

Kester died at night

Rained in afternoon

No dress parade too wet

Night warm & cloudy

Wrote home to Wife

Thursday, 18.

Morning lowring & warm

Self on outer camp

guard. Kesters corpse sent home

Day warm and cloudy

Some rain in afternoon

2 Prisoners in guard house

hard cases generally

All quiet at night

No news from Albert today

Mail light Some good war

News

August, Friday, 19. 1864.

Morning cloudy & wet

off guard at 7^1/2 AM

visited Hospital at 3 PM

Found Albert quite

weak & low could not

tell how he was exactly

Gunn appeared better

Kesters remains being embalmed

and sent home at night

Got letter from Wife and

wrote to Wife & Andrew

Saturday, 20.

Morning lowring & dark

Short guardmounting

visited Albert and

found him apparently

better. Rained nearly all

day. No dress parade

Some favourable war news

mail rather light

Night cloudy & misty

Wrote to Father Crosby

Sunday, 21.

Morning cloudy & damp

visited Fort Richardson

Talk of 100 days men going

home tomorrow. Also went

to hospital. Albert still better

with great desire to go home

Day quite warm but cloudy

G. Gunn still better

night cloudy & warm

Wrote to Wife & Gunn

Monday, 22.

Morning cloudy & foggy

Quinn Discharged

usual No of guards put on

Day warm & some rainy

visited Albert & found him

apparently gaining 166^th left

but sick did not go

Night cloudy & coolish

Ross got letter from Hunts Canada

Got letter from Bunn

Tuesday, 23.

Morning cloudy & cool

Self on guard 70 prisoners

in guard house Many soldiers

coming in to camp

Day very comfortable

but a busy day for guards

Camp nearly filled up

Night cloudy but pleasant

tolerably quiet Mail light

No very important news

Wednesday, 24.

Morning cloudy & warm

off guard at 8 AM

Day warm & clear after 10

went to Seminary Hospital

and found Albert and all

others of 100 day men gone

yesterday some cannon

heard from 5 to 7 AM

Rained some just at night

No news of much interest

Wrote home to Wife

August, Thursday, 25. 1864.

Morning some cloudy

usual No of guards on

Day not very hot

News of the taking of

the Weldon R Road

by Grant confirmed

Every thing quiet here

Some showering though day

No dress parade. Night cool

Wrote to Father Crosby

Friday, 26.

Morning clear & pleasant

Guardmounting at 7.

Day quite warm

Signs of rain with

wind & thunder at night

very little news from

the front. S Wilson

returned to company

Got letter from Wife 21^st

Wrote to Benham & Andrew

Saturday, 27.

Morning cloudy

Self officer of guard &c

Day quite warm night coolish

Some troops sent off and

few subs came in. Every

thing very quiet in camp

Dress parade at 7 PM

Not much war news

103^rd Pa ~~left~~ leaves for home

Sunday morning discharge

No mail for me

Sunday, 28.

Morning clear & cool

103 left at 7 AM

Off guard at 8 AM

Slept from 10 to 3 P.M

Day coolish & some

windy but very clear

Dress parade & usual Sunday

duties quite a N^o of Subs

came in 1 squad sent to camp Taylor

Wrote home to Wife &c

Monday. 29.

Morning cloudy & very cool

usual guardmounting at 8

Day quite warm & pleasant

Nothing unusual going on

Some subs coming in &

some being sent to front

Dress parade at 6^1/2P.M

Drew pair of Pants $3.10

Making out muster rolls

Mail & news light

Wrote to niece Rhoda E S[?]

Tuesday, 30.

Morning coolish & cloudy

Self on outer camp guard

Had a very quiet guard

Chicago Convention not

very harmonious. No

satisfactory news. Constant

coming and going of

Subs & other Soldiers

Night quite cool but

pleasant & extremely

quiet. Mail light

August, Wednesday, 31. 1864.

Morning very cool

Off guard at 9 AM

general inspection

and muster for pay

at 3 P.M Self & 2 others

(Ben & Henry) had ham & eggs

for dinner at Dorkus’

Day very pleasant

Chicago Convention had

by the ears. No mail at all

September, Thursday, 1. 1864.

Morning quite cold &

clear, Guardmounting at 7

News of M^cClellen^s Nomination

Some excitement thereat

Deserters & Bummers jubilant

No war news of account

Night clear & cold

Got letter from Wife of 28^th

Wrote home to Wife &c

Friday, 2.

Morning cool very & clear

Guardmounting at 8 AM

Day comfortably cool

Took a stroll for Peaches

found very few & poor

Nothing of importance

from Army Every

thing quiet here

Corp Darling^s time out

Lent & Culver went to

Reenlist. Night very cool

Saturday, 3.

Morning cloudy & cool

Guardmounting on small

scale. Scrubbed Barracks at

9 AM Self had chills

in forenoon & high

fever till night. felt hard

head ached tremendously

Nothing new in camp

News of the taking of fort

Morgan by our forces

Sunday, 4.

Morning clear & coolish

usual guardmounting and

Sunday^s fixing up of Barracks

Self attended sick call &

got Quinine & Whiskey

Some better in afternoon

No appetite Got little cake

& cheese of sutler Day warm

No dress parade Light mail

Wrote to Wife at night

Monday, 5.

Morning cloudy Rained last

night finely Self & Ross set

for guard Self excused

by Surgeon. General rejoicing

at the taking of Atlanta. 100

guns fired at Washington

at noon. Day warm

and cloudy Rained some

at 6 PM No dress parade

Not much mail Rained

very hard from 9 to 12 PM

September, Tuesday, 6. 1864.

Morning wet & lowring

No regular guardmounting

Rained nearly all day

and quite coolish

No important news

from the Army Av[?]

giving Early slightly in

Shenandoah Valley. Self better

but Ex. from duty Night

cloudy & misty Mail light

Wednesday, 7.

Morning clear & beautiful

usual guardmounting at 8

Camp full of rumours of

a move Nothing certain

Day very fine & clear

Not much going on in camp

War news unimportant

Self excused from duty

No dress parade. Very few officers

at home. Mail very light

Thursday, 8.

Morning cloudy & coolish

Self again excused by Surgeon

upper lip very sore of blisters

after noon quite wet

very little war news

Ferguson^s Shop shut up by

officer of Day for selling

whiskey No dress parade

Night cloudy & comfortable

Wrote home to Wife

Friday, 9.

Morning wet & lowring

guardmounting at our parade

grounds McClellen^s letter

of acceptance received

Some little rejoicing among

the half & half men

Nothing important from the

Dept of war Day fair

Night quiet & fair

Got letter from Wife. Albert dead

Saturday, 10.

Morning lowring & wet

Self on home camp guard

Rained from 8 till 10 A.M

Then fair all day No news

of importance from Grant

Had Dress parade at 6^1/2 P.M

Heavy rain in the night

Great preparations for send

ing off Soldiers to the front

All quiet in these parts

Sunday. 11.

Bergen left us

Morning rainy & dark

Off guard at 8 Several

showers through the

day & night. No

war news only a Battle

expected by Grant soon

No dress parade Officers

nearly all gone with squads

mail very light

All quiet in camp

Wrote home to Wife

September, Monday, 12. 1864.

Morning cloudy & cool

usual guardmounting at [?]

Slight showers through

the day No important

war news. Day quite

cool. usual policing

by prisoners Night

cool & pleasant

Got letter from Andrew

and answered same

Tuesday, 13.

Morning clear & cool

Self & Ross on guard

Self at Deserters camp

Day cool & fair guard

lines all very quiet

Not much doing with

troops to day. Night

very light and fine but

coolish. Only about 100

Deserters in camp. Mail light

Wednesday, 14.

Morning clear. Cloudy at

9 A.M. Off guard at 9

News very unimportant

Politics running briskly

Rained from 10 till 2 P.M

Some 3000 troops left for

the front at 10 15 PM More

came in to Distribution

Sergt. Zenz unwell & ex.

Slight rain in evening

Mail very light

Thursday, 15.

Morning cloudy & warm

usual guardmounting at 8

No news of fighting at the front

Recruits coming in briskly

No rain to day Nothing

of interest going on in our

camp. Examining some

hospital

for this Corps at Hd quarters

Wrote home to Wife enlisting

Friday, 16.

Morning very clear & cool

Self on outer camp guard

Karr & Zenz both sick

Day very fine & clear

many troops left and

many came in also

Night very beautiful

all very quiet in camp

No particular news

Got letter from Wife 13^th

Saturday, 17.

Morning extremely fine

Off guard at 8^1/2 A.M

Bauer Discharged time out

Scrubbed Barracks at 9 AM

Bowmaster of F. had fit on duty

Not much news from the war

Day quite warm & fair

More troops left camp

Night clear & pleasant

Every thing quiet

Got letter from Andrew

September, Sunday, 18. 1864.

Morning cloudy & cool

usual guardmounting at 8

No Sunday inspection

Day cloudy, not much

rain. General indignation

about our Rations.

No war news of account

Night very pleasant

Got letter from Marlyn

Wrote home to Wife

Monday, 19.

Morning nearly clear

Self on guard at Regt^l

camp. Day very fine

Maj Johnson returned

Not much war news

Some troops left for front

and some came in

Dress parade at Sundown

Night clear & beautiful

and very quiet

Tuesday, 20.

Morning clear & pleasant

Off guard at 8 A.M

Cleaned up for monthly

inspection & washed socks

gloves &c Darkies at work

Grading our camp

No inspection after all

Day very comfortable

News of Sheridans victory

in Shenandoah Valley

general Rejoicing

Wednesday, 21.

Morning quite foggy

usual N^o of guards put on

Policing & grading also

Good news confirmed of

Sheridans victory &c

More men sent off front

Soldiers also coming in

Dress parade at 6 PM

Night dark & rain at 2 o’clock

Wrote home to wife &c

Thursday, 22.

Morning cloudy & wet

Self & Ross on out camp

Guard Rather short of guards

Cole, M^cKelvey complaining

Day fair & comfortable

Troops leaving for front

100 Darkies left for Harpers Ferry

Camp very quiet all day

Night dark & some rainy

got Reflector of the 20^th

Regt got 80 Recruits

Friday, 23.

Morning cloudy & warm

Off guard at 9 AM

Recruits equipped & clothed

Grading & policing going on briskly

Day cloudy warm & pleasant

No war news of account

More soldiers moving in

No dress parade Col. gone

Everything quiet

Night dark & warm

Got letter from Wife 20^th

September, Saturday, 24. 1864.

Morning cloudy & sprinkly

Self on guard at Main

camp in full charge

Day quite showery & warm

Troops coming & going

Got news of the taking of

Petersburgh by Grant

Night windy & cool

Every thing quiet

Got letter from Wife of 22^nd

Sunday, 25.

Morning windy and

quite cool Off guard

at 9 AM No inspection

Andrew came to

see me at 10 AM

Discharged all right

very cool all day

night very clear

Dress parade as usual

Rumour that Petersburgh

was ours

Monday, 26.

Morning clear & cool

usual guardmounting

Day clear & warm

Andrew left for

Washington at 4 PM

Had a good visit

Nothing to confirm

yesterdays news

Got letter from Marlyn

of 18^th Wrote home

to wife & to Marlyn

Tuesday, 27.

Morning very pleasant

usual mounting of guards

Nothing definite from Grant

Rumoured fighting at Petersburgh

and farther successes by Gen

Sheridan Nothing uncommon

transpiring about here

Night clear & pleasant

Every thing quiet

Mail very light indeed

Wednesday, 28.

Morning clear & warm

Self on camp guard

Childs moved from eating house

Day tolerably fair & warm

Dress parade at Sundown

Several Bands to be heard

at night from other camps

Night some lowring

Every thing very quiet

Got letter from Andrew

Thursday, 29.

Morning cloudy & warm

Self went to Washington

Found Andrew ready

to start for home at 7 P.M

had very good visit

Returned at 5 P.M

by Stage. Not much

war news Some Re[?]

Night cloudy & dark

Ball over in main camp

Got letter from Wife 25^th

September, Friday, 30. 1864.

Morning Rainy, became

very mudy & disagreeable

Ross^s time out, went to get

discharge. Monthly inspection

of Arms Barracks &c at 2 PM

Day cloudy & some rainy

No dress parade Grant on the

move & some fighting

Night cloudy & dark

Not much mail

October. Saturday, 1. 1864.

Morning cloudy cool & damp

Guardmounting as usual

Rained most of the day

News of some advance by

Grant with some success

very strict orders on guard

Night rainy & very dark

Guards taken off at 9^1/2

Got letter from Rhoda

Wrote home to Wife &c

Sunday, 2.

Morning misty & dark

Self in charge of guard

very muddy & disagreeable

Not much stir nor passing

Day cloudy & coolish

No troops coming nor

going. 32 prisoners in the

guard house all day

Night dark & misty

Mail & news light

Monday, 3.

Morning dark & lowring

Off guard at 8^1/2 A.M

One company came to our

camp to assist us in duty

More or less lowery all

day and night

Good news from Grants

advance on Richmond

Ross left for home. Hastings

Examined for his Regt

Tuesday, 4.

Morning rainy & dark

Guards in increased in N^o

Good news confirmed

from the army

very cloudy & some lowery

Paid off in afternoon

Some troops sent off

very quiet in all parts

Night dark and damp

Mail very light

Wednesday, 5.

Morning very dark & damp

No regular guardmounting

More or less misty all day

No important war news

Balance of Regt paid

Several boys on a tight

Not much moving of troops

Capt. Van & Wipe returned

last night Ryan

released. All quiet

night dark & damp

October, Thursday, 6. 1864.

Morning foggy & damp

Self on camp guard

at Road. Day quite fair

very few troops moving

One Relief of new men (Grant

news indefinite from front

Butler success uncertain

Night cloudy & warm

Mail very light

Friday, 7.

Morning clear & pleasant

Did not get off guard till 10^1/2

General inspection of guards

at 8 & companies at 1^1/2 PM

by Maj Johnson. Very

good time. Long enough

Day very fine & warm

News meager & unchanged

Night very clear & beautiful

Not much mail

Saturday, 8.

Morning cool clear

Day very windy

Scrubbed Barracks

and fixed up some

Not much news

from the seat of war

Equipped Recruits

Night very cold

for the guards

All quiet in camp

Got letter from Wife

Sunday, 9.

Morning very cold

Usual guardmounting

Day very cool & windy

Dress parade at 6 PM

Rumours of a move

North night clear

and cold News light

Wrote home to Wife

and also to Marlyn

Monday, 10.

Morning cold & frosty

Self on guard at main

camp & in charge of all

guard lines Extended to 27

posts. Day quite fair

Not much moving of troops

No war news to speak of

Some cannon heard at night

up the river Night clear

& pleasant Mail light

Tuesday, 11.

Morning fine

Off guard at 10 AM

Elections held in the

main camp Distribution

No disturbances at camp

No Dem. votes for Ohio

Some mad & foolish

Day very fine

Night clear & cool

No war news

Got letter from Ross

October, Wednesday, 12. 1864.

Morning some cloudy

usual guard mounting at 9

Election news from O. Ind &

Penn favourable for Union

Forenoon quite fair

Afternoon wet & lowring

No war news of importance

No dress parade Night

fair. Got letter from

Marlyn & Speech from Ross

Wrote to Ross

Thursday, 13.

Morning cool & clear

Guardmounting at 9^1/2

Day clear & lowery

Election news good for Ohio & Indiana but doubtful for Penn

No dress parade Com

Officers party in camp

at night All quiet

Got letter from Wife 10^th

Friday, 14.

Morning clear & cool

Guardmounting at 9

No news of fighting in

any place at the front

Train smashed and

Robbed near White Plains

Some killed by Gunrobbers

Party sent from Alexandria

and burnt them out

Bringing in few prisoners

Wrote home to Wife

Saturday, 15.

Morning slightly cloudy

usual no of guards on

Kenton discharged, time out

Day quite clear & cool

News from Sheridan

good Early licked again

Penn Election uncertain

as yet Bought dress coat

of Treat $2.00 2 Shirts of King $1.00

Night pleasant & quiet

Sunday, 16.

Morning cloudy & warm

usual No of guards put on

Self on guard in charge

Day comfortable & clear

No many passing very few

soldiers coming in camp

or leaving. Night extra

fine & clear though cool

War news of no account

Mail very light

Monday. 17.

Morning clear & pleasant

Off guard at 10^1/2A.M

Day clear & pleasant

working squad of 50 men

policing camp and

smoothing off grounds

Nothing doing at the front

Some troops sent off

Cusick discharged

Night very fine moonlight

Mail light

October, Tuesday, 18. 1864.

Morning some cloudy

usual N^o of guards

and policing squad of 50

Day very fine & coolish

New Co Drilling

Some Reports of a Raid at

Edwards Spring & Reb [?]

Nothing from the front

Dress parade at Sundown

Wrote to Marlyn

Wednesday, 19.

Morning clear & beautiful

usual N^o of guards &

fatique squad of 50 men

Day extremely fine

Large squad of troops left

to Sheridan and others

came in at 1 P.M

Dress parade as usual

Night very fair

Got letter from Marlyn

Thursday, 20.

Morning clear & cool

usual guard & working

party. Some more news

from Sheridan good

23 recruits came to

Co D and some to other

campanys No news

from Grant or Sherman

Night very fine

Got Reflector and

Wrote home to Wife

Friday, 21.

Morning very clear

Self on guard in charge

Samelson Discharged

Day fair & comfortable

Good news from Sheridan

Some troops leaving &

some coming in

Night rainy from 1 to 4

Mail very light

Every thing quiet

Saturday, 22.

Morning clear & cool

Off guard at 10 A.M

Further good news from

Sheridan 50 cannon taken

from Early. Nothing

of importance from the front

Day some cloudy & cool

A little lowry at night

N.Y. men voting

Got letter from Wife 19^th

Sunday, 23.

Morning cloudy

usual Sundays cleaning

up for inspection &c

Day some cloudy, no rain

No formal inspection

No important war news

No troops leaving to day

Guard duty very strict

Wrote to Marlyn

and home to Wife

October, Monday, 24. 1864.

Morning cool & clear

Guard mounting in Regular

Style, working squad of

about 50 men fixing

up Bunks & Drains &c

Dress parade at Sundown

No war news of interest

Day fair & coolish

Mail light Bresner got

Furlough 20 days. All quiet

Tuesday, 25.

Morning very clear & pleasant

usual guards & policing

squad. Day clear & fine

very little war news

Some indication of a

move by Grant

Dress parade at Sunset

Night clear & pleasant

Cold & quiet

Got paper & letter from Ross

from Bunn

Wednesday, 26.

Morning very clear

usual guards & policing

squads Rumoured fight

on James River. Gun

boats &c. Day comfortable

but some cloudy signs of

rain Recruits mustered for

pay by Col M^cKelvey

Hubbell mustered out

Night very rainy

Mail full Me none

Thursday, 27.

Morning wet & lowring

the regular guard mount

Self on guard in charge

of all. Day tolerably fine

Very stringent orders

by Capt Mahoney

Got along satisfactory

Some deserters came in

Night wet Guard taken off

Got letter from Wife 23^rd

Friday, 28.

Morning quite fair

Off guard at 10 A.M

Day coolish & clear

with some wind

Not much war news

Making out furloughs

for some to go home to

vote Dress parade at 4^1/2

Night clear & cold

Wrote home to Wife &c

Saturday, 29.

Morning clear & pleasant

usual scrubbing of Barracks

News that Gen Hancock

defeated the Rebs nicely

Day clear & pleasant

Policing nearly finished

Building Railings &c

more furloughs made out

Dress parade at sunset

Mail quite full

Night clear & quiet

October, Sunday, 30. 1864.

Morning very fine

and some frosty

usual N^o of guards

and Sundays cleaning

Dress parade at 5 P.M

Several squads went to

the front & some came in

Day very fair & warm

Night clear & cold

Fair mail, no bad news

Monday, 31.

Morning clear & frosty

Inspection of guards and

muster for pay General

muster at 2 P.M

Day quite clear & warm

Michigan & Mass men

got furloughs 20 day

Night very fine & cold

Got letter from Marlyn

and answered several

November, Tuesday, 1. 1864.

Morning clear & frosty

usual N^o of guards

Sergt Karr went home 20 day

with several others. Day

very fine and warm

Not much doing with troops

No dress parade All busy

getting men off home to [?]

Got paper from Bunn

Wrote home to Wife

and to Bunn

Wednesday, 2.

Morning cloudy & frosty

Self in charge of guard

Day quite cloudy & cool

very few Subs came in

and few went front

Every thing very quiet

Night rainy and dark

but not very cold

No important war news

light mail

Thursday, 3.

Morning wet & misty

off guard at 10 AM

Rained slightly all day

few troops left for front

News no stir in the Army

Night very dark & wet

and extremely quiet

Wrote to Rhoda

Got letter from Wife Oct 30^th

Got one Reflector

Friday, 4.

Morning quite rainy

No regular guardmounting

Capt went to City Point

Cleared off at noon

Not much war news

Bought white wollen Shirt 75

No dress parade Officers gone

Night clear & moonlight

Brown got letter from Ross

Got Reflector all quiet

Wrote to Hoffmans

November, Saturday, 5. 1864.

Morning cloudy & cool

Self on guard in charge

Faired off fine but windy

Night very fine and

Still & the coldest of the Season

Every thing went well

Few Deserters came in

Very few troops left

No war news of interest

Got letter from Ross

Sunday, 6.

Morning very clear & frosty

off guard at 10^1/2 A.M

Day very fine under

regular guard mounting

Cloudy toward night

Dress parade at Sunset

Night cool with rain

in after part No war news

All very quiet in camp

Wrote home to Wife at 1 A.M

Monday, 7.

Morning rainy & dark

Full mount of guards

put on Nothing of any

interest from the front

Capt Van’. Returned from

City Point. Day and

night quite rainy

No news of interest

very quiet in camp

Wrote to A, M, Ross

Tuesday, 6.

Morning Rainy some

No regular guardmounting

Election went off very

quiet. Yet somewhat

spirited Very little

news from the seat of war

Night very rainy Some

officers happy enough

Got letter from Marlyn

Wednesday, 9.

Morning still raining

lightly Self on guard

in charge of all

Day quite warm

Rained some in night

every thing very quiet

Good election news

but not complete

No war news scarcely

M^cMin looking blue

Thursday, 10.

Morning quite rainy

Off guard at 10 AM

Cleared off before noon

News meager but

good for Abe

Nothing of much

interest from the front

only Sherman moving

toward Charleston

Night cool & windy

Got letter from Marlyn

November, Friday, 11. 1864.

Morning clear & cool

No change in Election

news Regular guard

mounting Day quite

fair News very light

No new war news

Night clear & pleasant

Got letter from Hoffman

Wrote to Hoffman

Wrote home to Wife

M^cLane returned

Saturday, 12.

Morning misty

usual guardmounting

Guards required to

walk beats in style

Day cloudy & cool

Not much news

Rained some at 4 PM

Night cool & cloudy

No Army news of interest

Wrote to Marlyn

Sunday, 13.

Morning cold & clear

Self in charge of guard

Full Style put on

Every thing went well

Night clear & cold

and very quiet

Very few troops in camp

Dress parade at 5^1/4

Very slight news

Not much mail

Wrote home to Wife

Monday, 14.

Morning cloudy & cold

off guard at 10^1/2AM

M^cCalure Discharged

Lots of troops passing

towards the front 1000^nds

News of an impending

move by Grant & Sherman

No dress parade Day

cool & cloudy Night same

Mail very light

Tuesday, 15.

Morning quite clear & cool

usual guardmounting at 7

Day quite cool & some

lowry in afternoon

News of Shermans defeat

of the Rebs again near Front

Royal No dress parade

Night clear & frosty

Mail quite light

Wrote home to Wife short

Wednesday, 16.

Morning tolerably clear

Self & M^cHenry

went to Washington

visited Smithsonian Institute

and Patent offices

and C[?]St 7^th VRC

Had a good time generally

Got back at 6 AM

Night quite cool

No war news of interest

Mail very light

November, Thursday, 17. 1864.

Morning quite cloudy

usual guard mtg &c

Lt Col Boyd returned

Sheridans new defeat

of Early in the papers

Some lowry through Day

Several furloughed men

Returned yesterday & to day

Night some cloudy

Reflector came mail light

Friday, 18.

Morning cloudy & Lowring

Self in charge of guard

Day cloudy & misty by

spells Very few troops left

& some came in

Night dark & rainy

Guards kept on Took Dinner

with friend H. O’Neill

all quiet in camp

Got letter from Wife & Benham

Saturday, 19.

Morning cloudy & wet

Off guard at 10 A.M

Day tolerably fair & warm

More Boys came back

from furlough No

dress parade News light

Night dark and rainy

Not much doing in troops

Self getting ready to leave

Got letter from Marlyn

and answered same

Sunday, 20.

Morning Rainy No

regular guard mounting

Self packed up for a start

tomorrow Day quite

rainy & dark. Karr &

others got in from furlough

Day very rainy and

night the same Mail

light No war news

Wrote home to Andrew

Monday, 21.

Morning cloudy & wet

Self started for home at

8 A.M. got to Washington at

10^1/2 AM Mustered out at 1 PM

Pay at 3 P.M took train

at 4^1/2 PM Reached Balto

at 6^1/2 Left at 7^1/2 passed Harrisburg

at 12. Reached Williamsport at

5^1/2 Left at 7^1/2 Snowing

Rained all day & nearly all night

Tuesday, 22.

Morning stormy of snow

Reached Elmira at 12 N

Stayed there till 4^1/2 PM

Reached Binghamton at

8 P.M Growing cold

& snowing some Sat

around Depo Wife came

in at 3 PM all right

having made safe con

nections all through

November, Wednesday, 23. 1864.

Morning cold & cloudy

Took Breakfast at 6

and left at 7^1/4 Reached

Chenango Park at 8

Took conveyance at 8

by land & reached

Brother at 11 AM

Found him & family

well and joyous and

commenced visiting

Thursday, 24.

Morning quite cold

Self & Marlyn attended

Church Good Thanksgiving

sermon by Rev Northup at

M.E. Church. Saw some

of old acquaintances and

Relatives. All well generally

Had good time with Squire

Barns. Visited Rev Lee &c

night cold Snow 2 inches

Friday, 25.

Morning cold but mild

Visited Uncle Luman

at 12 Found him well

and family all glad to see

us Freeman, Ira, and

Alvin & wife came in

at night Burdick &

[?] Rhoda, also present

had a good chat, all

though Marlyn & wife

went home at 4 PM

Saturday, 26.

Morning cloudy & calm

Snowed some through day

Self called at Freemans at

10 A.M. Bought his hat

Alvin went for Lucy (Hollis)

All hands out at Alvins

at 12 for a Social Reparte

Self, Wife, ~~Marlyn & Wife~~

Returned to Barnes at 4 PM

Sunday, 27.

Morning cloudy & lowry

~~All~~ Self & Wife &

Marlyn & wife

went to Church

Saw many old friends

Day cool & damp

Called at Marsh^s at

night, quite dark

Monday, 28.

Morning cloudy &

Day some what rainy

Visited [?] and

Johnsons to day

Visited at Morses

at night had good

time at old home

Bayington & wife

there & stayed all

night

November, Tuesday, 29. 1864.

Morning still wet

Visited Marlyns

children Uncle

Luman & Aunt

& Anson & wife

W. Barnes & wife

there. Good visit

Stayed all night

Wednesday, 30.

Morning pleasant

Visited W. Barnes

& took Dinner.

All satisfactory

Went to Ansons

at 4 P.M Several

of Uncles L.^s family

came in at night

had a good Cousin

December, Thursday, 1. 1864.

Morning quite cool

Visited at Hollis^s

& took Dinner

Hollis quite feeble

Made a small

present, (cash)

Went to Charles

Sweetlands at 4 PM

Stayed all night

had good visit

Friday, 2.

Morning cloudy & warm

Went to Ira^s at 10 AM

& stayed till 2^1/2 PM

took dinner All

hands went to uncle

L^s & Burdicks had

an old fashioned time

Cousin Mary Hays

present, night dark

Saturday, 3.

Morning cloudy and

misty Went down

to Freemans at 10

took Dinner &c &

had good visit. Short

Freeman carried us

to Marlyns at 4 PM

Roads rather muddy

found them all well

Night cooler Got

letter from Andy & Ross

Sunday, 4.

Morning Damp

Mrs English

December, Monday. 5. 1864.

Morning cloudy & cool

Went to J Wights &

called at Eddys

Tuesday, 6.

Morning cold & freezing

Eddy visited us and

Lonns Wife

Stormed at 12 snow

Started out at 1^1/2

Arrived at Marlyns

at 7 PM

Wednesday, 7.

Morning quite cold

Uncle Luman and

Rev Lee came at 12

Had good visit

Young folks came

at night. Rained

nearly all night

Thursday, 8.

Morning cold ground

frozen Went over

old farm

Day very cold

D[?] Morse & Wife

Visited us Catherine

Burns & Husband came

at 4 PM Burgess

Snowed some at

night

Friday, 9.

Morning cold frozen

hard and rough

Started for home at

850 AM Reached the

Forks at 10^1/2. Binghamton

at 1. Left at 4. Corning at 7

Orion at 10 Left at 12

Reached Leroy at 1 Stormed

of snow found tavern at

2 got trunks up at 3 AM

Saturday, 10.

Morning storming snow

6 inches Got team at 8

Reached Uncles at 10^1/2

quite moderate. Paid

$5.00 for 6 miles 1 for Breakfast

Found all well Night

quite cold and

some cloudy

December, Sunday, 11. 1864.

Morning cold and commenced

to snow at 11 AM

Snowed & blowed all

day and night

Cousins G. Wilkinson

and Jo^s R. Thomson &

families came to see us

Left in storm at 4 PM

Night extremely Blustery

and cold

Monday, 12.

Morning still Blowing

To bad to start out for

home. Had to be patient

Broke away at noon [?]

but very cold & less wind

Day spent in doors and

cutting wood Eating

apples & drinking cider

Night quite clear & still

but cold & pleasant

Tuesday, 13.

Morning cloudy & cold

Roads drifted full in places

Left Uncles at 11 AM &

Reached Batavia at 1 Roads

quite bare except the drifts

Wife traded some at store

Went to Depo at 3 Took leave

of Cousin Will & George

Left Batavia at 8^1/2 PM

Dunkirk at 11 Erie at 2

Night cloudy

Wednesday, 14.

Reached Cleveland at

8^1/4 Left at 8^3/4 and

arrived at Norwalk at

11 Stopped and paid

taxes and settled for

Reflector &c and [?]

to Monroevill at 4 PM

Visited at L Adams til

6 took turn south

& Reached Centreville at

Memoranda.

Tuesday Dec 8^th/63

Left home at 6.30 A.M

Took cars at Centerton at 7.40

Reache Mansfield at 9 &

left at 1 PM Reached

Pittsburgh at 8.30 and

left at 9 AM rode all

night and Reached

Harrisburgh at 6 am

Wednesday 9^th

Left at 8 Reached Reading

at 10.30 left at 11 and

arrived at Pottsville at 7 PM

Found Company all right

Thursday 10th

Some rainey Self on

Guard at Guard house

very good time

Friday 11^th

very cold Paymaster

in Town. Self sick at

night Chills & fever, and

sore throat

Saturday 12^th

Drew pay $34.00

paid capt $15.00

Self went to Hospital

with Diptherea got no

medicine

Sunday 13^th

Did not sit up much

very little medicine No better

Memoranda. [1863]

Stormed all day. Rain

Monday 14^th

Still stormy by spells

got medicine regular

Throat improved some

Tuesday 15^th

very cold. Self much

better. Wrote to Wife

Night extremely cold

Wednesday 16^th

Decidedly better medicine

only once in 4 hours

more moderate. Cavalry

Sergt. Hoover died to night

Thursday 17^th

Self got cold Bad pain in

head Sergt Clyde of 2^nd

cavalry brought in this

morning Shot by patrol

Stormed, snow & sleet

all day Night very cold

Friday 18^th

Morning cold & icy

Self much better Got

pass to quarters till 4 P.M

Thawed some Night cold

Got letter from Andrew

Saturday 19^th

Morning very cold & windy

Day cloudy Self better

Wrote to Wife

Memoranda.

Sunday 20^th

Morning very cold

Snowed very little

through the day

Self much better

Several brought to

hospital quite sick

fever &c. Clyde^s leg

quite bad Irascipilus

Wrote to Andrew

Monday 21^st

Morning cold but

moderating. Day quite

comfortable 2 or 3

others brought to hosp

ital to day Self

caught some cold

last night. Talk of

going to California

Wrote to Marlyn

Tuesday 22^nd

Self continued to improve

Morning cloudy & mild

Self some better but weak

and cold in head & lungs

But nothing severe

Afternoon quite fine

Night clear & cold

2 others brought to hospital

No letter from home

yet Rather strange

Wednesday 23^rd

Memoranda. [1863]

Morning clear and

very cold Self better

and Discharged from

Hospital at 1 PM

Took medicine along

Every thing right at

quarters Night very

cold. No letter for

me. All quiet

Thursday 24^th

Very cold & clear

Self quite well

People engaged in preparing

Dinner for Soldiers

tomorrow Dropped into

Hoffmans with presents

for children at night

Got letter from Wife

Wrote to Wife

Friday 25

Morning clear & pleasant

Self on guard at

Guard house Day very

fine Great dinner

by citizens at camp

Self took dinner at

Hoffmans Day very

quiet night same

and pleasant

Got letter from Wife

Saturday 26^th

Morning cloudy &

not very cold, off

guard at 9 AM

Great day for scating

on Tumbling Run

Quite warm & pleasant

very quiet

Some strict at night

Wrote to Rhoda

[margin: Sergt Perry died

of Co B]

Sunday 27^th

Morning very icy

Inspection at 8

Rained slightly during

day. Did not attend

church to day But

did at night. very good

meeting indeed

Night cloudy & dark

Wrote home to Wife

Monday 28

Morning rainy &

icy. Rained nearly

all day Commenced

making out pay

rolls Sergt Perry^s

brother came for his

body Night very

dark and stormy

mail light

all quiet

Memoranda. [1863]

Tuesday 29^th

Morning cloudy & misty

Streets very icy and

bad getting around

Thawed in afternoon

Co D moved into

Barracks in camp

Got very well fixed

up by night. Mail

light, Sergt Perry^s body

sent home

Wednesday 30^th

Morning clear & frosty

Burns and Bauer started

home on furlough

Day very fine and

spent in making [?]

and fixing up things

generally in Barracks

Capt VanDerliss came here

Mail very light

Thursday 31^st

Self on guard at

Guard house at 9

Snowed all day

Rained nearly all

night. very muddy

All quiet in town

through the night

Got letter from Andrew

Wrote letter to Wife

Cash Account—January.

Date Received Paid

Amount Received

from W S for Dec

2 months pay 34.00

Paid Capt VanD^ss 15.00

Sent home 15.00

Total 34 30.00

30^th Lent Cooper .25

18 Received from home 5.00

“ Trenton Dr .15

19 Culver Dr 1.00

20 Sergt Marsh Dr 1.00

25 B Treat Dr 1.00

28 B Treat Cr 1.00

Feb

5^th Culver Cr 1.00

9 Sergt Marsh Cr 1.00

Cooper .25

DATABASE CONTENT

(1110)

DL0168

Letters

1864

Diary of Corporal Daniel Sweetland, 55th Ohio Infantry, 1864; Accompanied by CDV

Tags: Alcohol, Courts Martial, Election of 1864, Elections, Furloughs, Mail, Money, Nature, Newspapers, Prostitution/Prostitutes, Religion, Substitution/Substitutes, Weather

People - Records: 1

(478) [writer] ~ Sweetland, Daniel

SOURCES

Daniel Sweetland Diary, 1864, DL0168, Nau Collection

Search form

You are here

People - Records: 1