Thomas A. Polleys Diary, 1864
Thomas A Polleys
Culpepper Va
March 10th 1864
John O Johnson
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January, Friday 1, 1864.
The coldest day within the recolection of the oldest inhabitant Mercury congealed and spirit thermometor stood at 4&½°
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January, Saturday, 16, 1864.
Joined my Regt in Milwaukee
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January, Tuesday, 19, 1864.
Arrived at home today found my friends all well and glad to see me
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January, Monday, 25, 1864.
Attended the Barns Festival at Buffalo City had a very pleasant time
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Febuary, Wednesday, 3, 1864.
Thursday, 4
Married by Elder Tucker at the house of wifes Father at 8 oclock P.M.
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February, Tuesday, 9, 1864.
Thursday, 11.
Left home for Milwaukee to join my Regt.
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February, Saturday, 27, 1864.
Sunday, 28
Reinlisted at Culpepper Va. for three years.
Monday 29
Mustered into United States Service at Culpepper C.H. Va
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March, Thursday, 10, 1864.
Stormy cold day
Skirmishing on the front
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March, Thursday, 31, 1864.
Received my furlough and started for home. Got my transportation and left Washington on the 7.30 train. Arrived at Harrisburg at midnight
April, Friday, 1.
Took breakfast at Altona arrived at Pittsburg at 1 P.M. Left for Chicago at 2 P.M.
Saturday 2.
Arrived at Chicago at 11 A.M. got to Minn Junction at 7.30 P.M.
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April Sunday, 3, 1864.
Arrived in Lax at 6 A.M.
Monday, 4.
Spent the day in Lax
Tuesday, 5.
Went up river on the 8 oclock boat. go to Trempealeau at noon
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April Sunday, 24, 1864.
Tuesday, 26.
Left home for Lax
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April, Wednesday, 27 1864.
Friday, 29.
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April, Saturday, 30 1864.
Left Lax for Horison
Went to Juneau
Monday, 2.
Left for the Army.
Arrived in Chicago at 8 P.M. and left for Pittsburg at 10 A.M.
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May, Tuesday, 3, 1864.
Left Culpepper at 11 oclock A.M. and marched in the direction of Germania Ford
Arrived in Pittsburg at 11 P.M.
Wednesday, 4
Crossed the Rapidan and marched towards Chancellorsville. no fighting to day—Arrived in Washington at 10 P.M.
Thursday, 5
Fighting commenced at 12 M. Marched at 8 A.M. Maj Plummer killed Capt Converse killed Capt Killroy wounded and prisoner. Went to Alexd
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May, Friday, 6, 1864.
Skirmishing commenced at day brake fighting continued all day. Gen Wadsworth.
Saturday 7.
Acting as reserve for the Corps. Marched at 11 PM. towards Spottsylvania CH.
Sunday, 8.
Commenced fighting at 11 AM. 2½ from the CH. Lt Prine Co A killed. fell back erected brestworks. Rebels following us closely.
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May, Monday, 9, 1864.
Fighting on our left. We were not engaged.
Rebells charged but were repulsed.
Tuesday 10.
Advanced to make a charge but found the enemies works to strong Picket fireing all day
Wednesday, 11.
Remained behind our works all day. Artillery fireing in the afternoon
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May Thursday, 12, 1864.
Made a charge in the morning were repulsed marched to left and joined 2d Corps. Marched to right 1½ miles raining and very mudy Fireing all night.
Friday, 13.
Occupied the Reb works relieved and marched to where we left on the 12th. Marched all night to the left. roads very mudy raining quite hard
Saturday, 14.
Remained quiet all day.
Returned from Furlough.
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May, Sunday, 15, 1864.
Remained quiet. Heavy rain storm
Monday, 16.
Remained quiet. Drew rations. Packed up but did not move. Cannonadeing on the right
Tuesday, 17.
Remained quiet. Packed up but did not move—
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May, Wednesday, 18, 1864.
Heavy cannonadeing in our line three times during the day.
Thursday, 19.
Rebells charged on our right to get posession of the Frederickbg road and our trains. But were repulsed by Griffins Div of H.A.
Friday, 20.
Quiet in our front
First mail since the 4th
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May, Saturday, 21, 1864.
Packed up and left our works at 1 PM. Marched to the left to Guinia station crossed the Po river and halted for the night.
Sunday, 22.
Advanced and built brest works—Artillery fireing in our front and on the right Packed up at 1 PM and marched 8 miles in direction of North Arm and halted for the night at Bulls Church.
Monday, 23.
Marched at day light. Halted at Mt Carmall Church for Corps train to pass. Marched again at 2 PM, crossed Jeniev Ford at 5 P.M. Had a sharp fight with A. P. Hills corps. repulsed them—after an hours fighting—
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May, Tuesday, 24, 1864.
Remained quiet all day supporting Battery very warm day—captured some 500 prisoners during the day.
Wednesday, 25.
Marched at sunrise 3 miles to the left and built brest works brisk skirmishing all day.
Thursday, 26.
Remained quiet during the day. Marched back across the river at dark Stoped to draw rations at midnight Heavy shower of rain.
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May, Friday, 27, 1864.
Marched at day light in the direction of Pamunkey some 5 miles and halted for the night. Weather very warm.
Saturday, 28.
Marched at day light. crossed the river at 10 AM at Hanover ferry and built brest works. Cannonadeing and skirmishing in our front.
Sunday, 29.
Packed up at day light. Marched at noon some three miles and halted in the for the night
Weather fine
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May, Monday, 30, 1864.
Marched out a short distance at 6 A.M. Artillery in the forenoon. Advanced at noon and built brest works. doubled quicked to the right to support Col Braggs Brig. came back to our own works. built works in the woods at dark. Drew rations
Tuesday 31.
Moved to the left in the woods and layed quiet all day. Artillery to our left. Weather fine.
June, Wednesday, 1.
Moved forward at 8 A.M. and built works. Advanced into the at noon at built works went to rear and supported Bragg advanced and supported Battery Built works during the night Skirmishing all day.
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June, Thursday, 2, 1864.
Remained quiet in our brest works. Rebells charge Burnside and are repulsed. They shell our works. Weather fair. Rained during the night.
Friday, 3.
Fighting on the right 9th Corps on the left, 6th and 8th Corps. We remained quiet. Several men wounded by sharpshooters. Weather plesant.
Saturday, 4.
Remained quiet. Some shelling in the afternoon.
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June, Sunday, 5, 1864.
Some picket fireing. Drew rations—Ordered to move at dark. Marched till day light to Cold Harbor.
Monday, 6.
Pitched tents for the first time since leaveing camp. W. L. Johnson returned to Co Col Bragg returned to Regt.
Tuesday, 7.
Struck tents at day light and moved out. Moved to the left some 4 miles near the Chickahomony. Halted and pitched tents for the night.
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June, Wednesday, 8, 1864.
Regiment went on picket Quiet all day, some fireing to our right. The pickets talk and trade togeather Pickets were relieved at 6 P.M.
Thursday, 9.
Nothing of importance occured to day, a few big guns on the right. Recd a letter from Cordeal. We hear that Hunter has defeated the Rebs in the Shanondoh valley. Drew Rations for 2 days
Friday, 10.
Weather warm and dry Doing picket duty on the extreme left of the Army Drew pork and apples to day. went on Picket for the first time in two years at Chickahominy R.
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June, Saturday, 11, 1864.
Weather hazy with appearance of rain. Talking with the Rebs forbidden but is not stoped. Trading some with the Rebels. Quiet all along the line.
Sunday, 12.
Regimental inspection at ten oclock. By Col Davis. Divine Service at 2 P.M. Recd a mail but no letters for me. Packed up at dark. Marched at 9 P.M. Crossed the Chickahominy and halted till day light.
Monday, 13.
Moved out at day light up the river. Halted 7 oclock for coffee. Artillery on our right Marched back at 3 P.M. to guard the train. came back to the bridge and halted for coffee. Marched at dark. Halted at midnight cavalry fight in the afternoon
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June, Tuesday, 14, 1864.
Moved towards Charles City CH at 6 A.M. Weather cloudy. Stoped for coffee at 8 A.M. Moved out again at 9 A.M. Halted for dinner Remained north of the river.
Wednesday, 15.
Every thing quiet. Boys very short of rations. Transports very buisy crossing troops Drew three days rations. No news of importance. Weather warm and dry.
Thursday, 16.
Orders to move at day light Moved down and halted on the bank preparatory to crossing Crossed at 11 A.M. Marched on till 12 P.M. Heavy fireing at Petersburg. Weather hot and dry
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June, Friday, 17, 1864.
Heavy fireing at Petersburg. Moved to the front at 9 A.M. and formed line of Battle Sharp shelling and Picket fireing No general engagement to day. Very warm and dry Barberict and Fuchs returned
Saturday 18.
Advanced at day light. some skirmishing and Artillery wounded about 3 PM Bone badly fractured Got back to Hospital and had my wound dressed.
Sunday, 19.
Had my leg amputated about noon. Was taken to city point to Corps Hospital.
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June, Monday, 20, 1864.
Wound sore and painfull
Tuesday, 21.
Wound doing well
Weather warm and dry
Wednesday, 22.
Wound quite painful
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February, Bills Payable.
Thomas Blake was killed on the 12th day of May 1864. Not killed but wounded on the 12th and died from his wounds some days afterwards.
Nicklaus Schneider was killed on the 12th day of May 1864. Frederick Schmidt was killed May 12th 1864 John May was killed May 12th 1864. Frederick Schlosstine wounded and supposed to be killed on the 10th day of May 1864.
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March, Bills Payable.
Isaac Gillespie wounded May 5th 1864. Denis Kelly wounded May 12th 1864 Charles Hunding wounded May 8th John Jensen May 10th 1864. Saml Taylor May 12th 1864 John Bartch May 12th 1864 John Keller May 10th 1864 A Schleslitz May 12th 1864.
DATABASE CONTENT
| (2192) | DL0430 | Diaries | 1864 |
Diary of Thomas A Polleys of Culpepper, Va
Tags: Ambrose Burnside, Amputations, Artillery, Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, Battle of the Wilderness, Camp/Lodging, Death (Military), Fighting, Fortifications, Furloughs, Home, Hospitals, Injuries, Mail, Marching, Marriages, Picket Duty, Prisoners of War, Railroads, Recreation, Rivers, Siege of Petersburg, Supplies, Weather
People - Records: 1
- (5174) [writer] ~ Polleys, Thomas A.
SOURCES
Thomas A. Polleys Diary, 1864, DL0430, Nau Collection
