This diary was kept by Jonathan A. Catlin (1837-1906), the son of James Catlin (1789-1862) and Mary Heacock (1802-1882) of Tioga, Tioga county, New York. Jonathan had several brothers: Reynolds Catlin (1822-1868), Erastus Catlin (1824-1856), Mead Catlin (1830-1906), John Catlin (1834-1865), James H. Catlin (1841-1917), and Edmund S. Catlin (1844-1933). The Catlin family had a farm near Tioga Centre in an area known locally as Catlin’s Hill west of Owego in the Susquehanna River Valley. One of Jonathan’s cousins was Isaac Swartwood Catlin (1835-1916) who served with distinction as the  Colonel of the 109th New York Infantry.
Just prior to the Civil War, we learn from Jonathan’s diary that he had struck off on his own as a farm laborer in Squaw Grove Township—the first township to be settled in DeKalb county, Illinois. The town of Hinckley, situated on Little Rock Creek, is the largest commercial center in the township today, some 20 miles west of the Fox river. In the summer of 1861, Jonathan worked for shares on the farm of 71 year-old William Ward, a native of Pennsylvania.
Jonathan enlisted in Co. G, 52nd Illinois Infantry in October 1861. After the war, Jonathan moved to Gustavus, Trumbull county, Ohio, where he became a cabinet maker and specialized in coffins. On 17 November 1864 while he was in Dekalb County, Illinois, on a sick leave furlough, he married Melissa Miller (1844-1867). After her death, he remarried Mary A. Logan with whom he had at least three children.
Jonathan’s diary is now housed in the archives of The Illinois History and Lincoln Collections of the Illinois University Library at Urbana. It has been digitized for the public although there does not appear to have been a transcript previously made of it. Jonathan has inscribed his name on the first page of the diary and dated it 25 December 1861 which suggests to me this is when the diary was acquired although he backdated the entries, presumably from memory, to the departure from his hometown in September 1860.
TRANSCRIPTION
J. A. Catlin
Co. G, 52nd Illinois Vol.
Corinth, Miss.
Dec. 25th 1861
Journey from home.
Started for Illinois from Owego, N. Y. September 26, 1860. Stopped at Suspension Bridge from 3 P. M. until 27th, visited the [Niagara] Falls during the time. Went on the Great Western for Detroit, Michigan. Stayed there all day. Took the night train for Ionia. Stopped there a part of the day on business the 29th. Took the cars for Grand Haven. Arrived there at 4 P.M. Took a berth on the boat Comet for Chicago. We landed at Racine, Wisconsin, in the morn. Sunday 30th were compelled to lay up there until the next morning on the account of bad weather.
October 1st we started out for Chicago. Arrived there at 1 P.M. Stayed there until 10 A. M. and then I took the cars for Cortland. Got to Corn[elius] Taylor’s at 4 P. M. Squaw Grove October 2nd. 4th I went to Sycamore to a fair on the 8th. I went to work on the threshing machine for Cornelius Taylor.
[Editor’s Note: The first Agricultural Fair was held in Sycamore in 1852 under the supervision of the DeKalb Agricultural Society.]
Nov. 3rd. I went to Joliet on horseback. Was there 1 week. Went back to Squaw Grove. Dec. 14th. I went to Morris after coal 40 miles. 24th. I started for Wisconsin. Got to Alva Catlin’s 25th. Brodhead went to Janesville. Stayed in the vicinity two weeks of that place. Then I returned to Broadhead’s. Found my brother James there. In the forepart of Feb. 1861, I went back to Squaw Grove, Dekalb county, Illinois, Jim going with me. I took a farm to work in shares of Wm. Ward & made it my home there during the summer. James got homesick & went home in April. I hired 25 acres, broke on my land there. It was a very poor year for crops.
Enlistment in 52nd Illinois Regiment
The war fever raging high. I enlisted October 10th in the Lincoln Regiment, 52nd Illinois Volunteers encamped at Geneva, Kane County, Illinois. We drew our clothing there & was paid two months pay [on] Nov. 27th & the 28th we started for St. Louis. Went on the cars to Alton, took a boat there to St. Louis. Got into Benton Barracks in the evening of the 30th.
Dec. 1 [1861]. I commenced cooking for the company which I continued to do until 28th of Feb. 1862. Dec. 9th, we loaded on the cars & started for St. Jo [Missouri]. Arrived there by rail Dec. 11th. Stayed there two or three days when a few companies of us were ordered out [to] Stewartsville 25 miles east. We stayed there two weeks when we were ordered to get aboard of the cars which we did. Towards evening we stopped & pitched our tents in the snow by a bridge in the woods which we called Bushy Run. We stayed there two weeks—two companies of us. The 52nd [Illinois] Regiment was stationed at other places [on the railroad] as needed. Then we were all ordered in to St. Jo.
On the 10th of January 1862, we were ordered back to St. Jo. We had a very cold & tedious night. Arrived there at 3 A. M. 11th. On the 16th, we packed up & took the cars for a trip to the east & south. We got to Palmyra in the evening of 17th. I was detailed to stay with the baggage. The regiment went a foot on the railroad through the snow to Quincy in the night. The 20th we were taken to Hannibal with the baggage.
In the afternoon we loaded it onto teams & started for Quincy—a distance of 20 miles. We arrived there at midnight. The regiment had gone to Ft. Holt, Kentucky. We took the cars at 4 P. M. 21st. We got to Cairo on the 23rd, crossed the [river] to Ft. Holt. In the afternoon of the 24th we packed up & took to the boat. Crossed over to Cairo, stayed there all night, & at 10 A. M. 25th, we started. Went up the Ohio River.
Stopped at the mouth of the Cumberland River, Smithland, Kentucky. On Sunday 26th, we went ashore and pitched our tents. Stayed there three weeks. On Sunday Feb. 16th we were ordered up to Ft. Donelson, Tennessee. We went aboard the boat Alek Scott. Started in the evening, got up to the fort in the morning of 17th—a distance of ninety miles up the Cumberland River. But the fighting had all ceased & the Rebels had surrendered all on Sunday morning. We did not get off the boat. The 52nd was detailed to go north with prisoners. We were put in charge of 5 boats, two companies on each. We loaded up with the Butternuts & in the latter part of the night our fleet started down the river. We got to Cairo in the night of the 18th. Stayed there until morning. Then we started for St. Louis. The weather being very cold & stormy, got to St. Louis in the evening of 20th & our prisoners found a plenty of sympathizers. We stayed there on the boat until the evening of the 21st.
The boat then run up to Alton. The next day we put on board the cars and started for Chicago. We got to Chicago in the afternoon Sunday 23rd. Marched our prisoners to Camp Douglass.
The Battle of Shiloh
We stayed there until the evening of 3rd March [1862]. During our stay there we were all permitted to make a short visit home. In the evening of 3rd, we started again for St. Louis. At Alton we took the boat again for St. Louis. Stayed there until noon of the 5th. Then we run down to St. Louis & marched up to Benton Barracks. On the 8th we got two months pay. On the 13th we packed up again & shipped aboard the City Florence. We was on the boat until the 20th when we went ashore & pitched our tents on the banks of the Tennessee River, Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee. All was quiet there until April when the Rebels made a general attack on early Sunday morning the 6th. We fought them hard all day. When come on, we had lost a great deal of ground & cut up badly. We lay Sunday night on the banks of the river. It rained very hard in the night but we up & at them in the morning early & after some hard fighting succeeded in driving them from our grounds, we meeting with but very little loss.
The remainder of the month was spend in removing and caring for the sick and wounded & reorganizing our troops for an advance on Corinth. I was taken sick with the typhoid fever, did not get able to do anything until the 1st of May.
On the 30th day of April we made a move from Pittsburg Landing, moved towards Corinth 5 or 6 miles & encamped two nights. The next day we moved a couple of miles & encamped & took dinner, then the regiment went on to Monterey without the camp equipages. I was left back with the camp. We had a long rain and it was a number of days before we got up with our camp. They suffered for the want of their blankets. While there we received two months pay on 7th of May.
The 8th we moved again. On the 9th we moved about two miles again & threw up breastworks. The 13th we moved three miles again. Moved again on the 17th. I was at General Grant’s headquarters 3 days. I was relieved & sent to the regiment. We moved again the same day. I was left with the company. Our folks done a little shelling the woods and threw up breastworks. Our pickets were skirmishing pretty freely.
23rd [May 1862] I was detailed with a pretty heavy fatigue party to cut brush & build a bridge. Our pickets advanced on them pretty rough. They came up again with a pretty heavy force & we were compelled to retreat our camp, firing ceased, & we reassumed our work & finished through a very heavy rain. We did not make any move for a number of days although the pickets kept up a continual fire.
29th [May], we were in front in line all day and night. On the morning of 30th, we became aware that the enemy were nearly all gone from Corinth. We started in pursuit. we followed them to Boonville about 25 miles south. Did not see them. On the 8th we received two months pay.
On the 12th [June 1862], the regiment started for Corinth. I was left with baggage. I got to Corinth with the baggage on Sunday 15th. I cooked through the month of June. We received two months pay again August 9th.
Second Battle of Corinth
We stayed in camp about two miles southeast of Corinth with the exceptions of a few scouting expeditions. All peaceful and quiet until October 3rd. In the morning we started for a heavy march as we expected but before we got to Corinth we heard heavy firing. We quickened our steps to an outer line of breastworks where the enemy was advancing commanded by Price and others. They broke in on our left & we were compelled to fall back. We picked a position & held the enemy in check for two or three hours, losing none from our regiment except our Adjutant [Edward] Brainard who was killed. We fell back to our forts and changed our position a number of times during the night. At 3 o’clock the next morning there rebels commenced throwing shells into town which was immediately responded to from our forts. A brisk cannonading was kept up on both sides until nearly daylight. It presented a grand sight. Firing cease until a part of the forenoon expired when they made one grand charge on our forts. We were for a little while forced to fall back. They came up to our forts and did succeed a few of them in getting into two but our fire was so hot we soon forced them to retire. We drove them from our grounds entirely although they rallied twice again. They did not leave after the first charge. We lost in killed 1 from Co. G & 6 from the regiment & upwards of 50 wounded. We stayed on the field the remainder of the day and night.
In the morning we started in pursuit of our enemy. Sunday [October] 5th, they on their retreat met another four of ours commanded by Buell at the Hatchie River & got whipped badly. We went as far as Ruckersville [and] did not see anything of them & returned to our camp, arriving there on Sunday the 12th.
The next day we got marching orders. took our old track again together up the littering of Price’s camp & equipages which he threw away between the Tuscumbia & Hatchie River. Got back to camp again on 15th. Our camp was moved about two miles west.
November 2nd [1862]. we moved our camp inside of the breastworks. They moved all but the Second Division away. We went to work & fixed up for winter. Raised our tents and put in fireplaces. The guerrillas annoyed us a little.
December 11 [1862] We started on a trip accompanied with the 2nd Iowa to Alabama with about forty teams to each regiment. We rode in the wagons. On the 13th we run on in the evening when we were compelled to encamp for our men were all tired out and badly straggled. We had made a march of 22 hours duration with only rest enough to eat our meals. On Saturday we marched all day from sunrise until 8 P. M. & Sunday the same. Took dinner at Lexington. We were this time in pursuit of a band of mounted men that had been tearing up and burning the Jackson Road. On Monday morning, we turned our steps homeward. We encamped about two miles from Henderson.
We marched down to Henderson Station in the morning of 23rd, took the cars & got to Corinth at 1 P. M. We had this time with us the 1st and 3rd Brigade & ten pieces of artillery.
We received marching orders the evening of January 1st 1863. Started the next morning at 8½ o’clock. We went to Monterey. Took diner. Went five or six miles & encamped for the night. It rained very hard all night. The next day we started for Corinth at 9½ A. M. It rained very hard all the forenoon. We got to Corinth at 3½ P. M. on the 4th. We had mail come in by the way of some of their pickets on the other side of Bear Creek. Our cavalry (which I had forgotten to mention numbering about 400 were along with us) followed them about 12 miles. When they took a position on the opposite side of a stream & opened guns on us. We advanced to the stream. They burned the bridge. After dark we fell back to our wagons which we left a little way in the rear. At midnight we started again for home. Did not stop until we reached Bear Creek about 8 the next morning.
Learns of Father’s Death
We got into camp again Sunday [January] 14th, the distance of our trip was seventy miles from Corinth to Franklin county, Alabama, & return. We brought in 50 bales of cotton and 60 prisoners. We received marching orders again the 18th. Started at midnight. I received a letter from home in the evening stating that my Father was dead. He died December 5th.
We started at midnight nearly a northerly direction. Did not stop until daylight. we stopped for breakfast. we marched on [and] reached Purdy at 3 P. M. Took supper & started on and marched until 10. Memphis & provisions came in on the 6th. Our railroad communication was cut off from [  ] [on] December 17th & we have lived on half rations since them.
January 24th. We started for Hamburg Landing. It rained all day in the evening. We were put on the boat with 7th Iowa, 81st Ohio. Stewart’s Battalion of [ Â ] & four pieces of artillery. It was very rainy and cold all night. In the morn we started up the river. One of the side wheels broke after we had gone about 3 miles. Came back to the landing. Our regiment stayed there until the next day, then we came back to Corinth. The mud was frozen up. It was very good walking. We got to our camp at sundown.
February 14th [1863], we started with a train of about 150 teams and two regiments besides ours—39th Iowa & 39th Ohio—after lumber. A little ways from Burnsville it rained a little all day. We encamped that night at Burnsville. In the morning we started for the mill—a distance of 6 or 7 miles. The way was so bad it took us all day to get our loads [and] start for home. We had a very bad swamp to go through. We encamped at night by the railroad at the edge of the swamp. It took us the next day until 2 P. M. to get through the swamp.
Started from Burnsville at 5 P. M. Marched to Farmington where we were obliged to [ Â ]. At 10 o’clock, it being so very dark & muddy, it rained very hard in the night. The next morning we went into Corinth at 9 A. M. Tuesday 17th.
On the 25th we received marching orders again in company with the 7th Iowa. It rained very hard. We started at noon. Streams were very high. We encamped out six miles from Corinth. it rained very hard all night. I was on guard. We started the next morn at 7. It rained very hard until 4 P. M. We encamped about 5 miles from Jacinto. We started at daylight the next morn & went into Jacinto. Took up our quarters in empty buildings.
On Monday, March 2nd, we went out foraging. There was a small train of our cavalry came in with some niggers & plunder from Tuscumbia. On Wednesday the 4th we started for Corinth. Got there at noon. We stayed in camp all quiet building barracks & preparing for summer until April 15th when our whole garrison started for a trip to Alabama. We started in the morn at about 8, went to Burnsville where we encamped for the night. We were in the advance. Our train commenced moving in the morn at 5 o’clock. we being in the rear, did not start until 8 A. M. & encamped a little before sundown about 16 miles this side of Big Bear Creek. The next morn we moved on again, our Brigade being in the centre. We found some rebel pickets on the other side of Bear Creek and advancing had a little skirmish with them. We placed two little pieces upon a hill & soon shelled them out. We advanced to the creek and waded it by stripping off our clothes & carrying them on our shoulders. We encamped on the opposite side of the creek for the night. The cavalry went on ahead without orders & got into a little muss with the rebels.
At 6 P. M. we were ordered forward. Went about 10 miles when we came up to them at 11 o’clock P. M. They had lost two pieces of artillery & two companies taken prisoners. We stayed there until 10 A. M. the next day when the 1st Brigade move forwards about two miles, formed in battle line and stayed there until 2 P. M. when we marched back to Bear Creek. Arrived there just at sundown. It was a very warm and dusty day.
The next morn, Sunday, 19th [March] we moved our camp upon a high elevation called Oak Hill & took possession of some old nigger house. We stayed there until Thursday the 23rd when we started at 5 A. M in the direction of Tuscumbia. We stopped about 5 miles this side of Little Bear Creek—which is a distance of 21 miles from Big Bear—for dinner at 2 P. M. when we moved forwards & formed line of battle. The first brigade moved forward in that form with skirmishers in front within about 1 mile of the creek. There was but a few rebels to be seen & they fell back as we advanced. We took a good position there & encamped for the night.
The next morn we started at 8, crossed the creek on the railroad bridge, went up into the Tuscumbia & went into camp on the E. side of the town. Tuscumbia has been a splendid little place situated in a fine county with admirable natural surroundings. We moved again Monday morn towards Courtland. At about 4 P. M. we came on to some rebels at a little creek called Town Creek. We filed to the right, formed line. The rebels showed signs of resistance, planted some artillery, & fired a few rounds which was promptly returned by ours & skirmishing was kept up until dark quite briskly. Co. G was called upon for picket.
The next morn the pickets advanced to the bank of the creek which was not fordable. Skirmishing quite briskly. Artillery was brought into position on both sides and kept up a fire until past noon now & then changing positions, when the Rebs fell back & we crossed the creek on the railroad bridge & advanced on them about two or three miles with skirmishers in front. The rebels presented to us a pretty good line of skirmishers continually falling back. Our boys exchanged a few shots with them but to little effect. When at dark we fell back to our position of the night previous leaving a few regiments on the opposite side of the creek for pickets. I saw two signal rockets sent up at about 10 in the evening.
We started on Wednesday morn for Corinth. Our rations had nearly all run out & we had been on half rations for a number of days. We got back to Corinth without any trouble Saturday May 2nd, at 2 P. M. We remained in camp at Corinth all quiet and built good houses to live in.
Aug. 18 our brigade received orders to pack up & be ready to take the cars at a moments notice. Took the cars in the evening & went on the Memphis Railroad. The Brigade was left along the road from Lagrange to Germantown. Our regiment was placed at the latter place where we went to work & built houses again to live in.
[Editors Note: During this gap in Catlin’s diary, he witnessed the execution of a deserter and wrote about it to his cousins in Tioga county, New York. See—1863: Jonathan A. Catlin to Cousins]
We were there all quiet until October 27th [1863] when we got orders to pack up & prepare for a long campaign. We were paid off in the night for the months of July and August.
In the morning of the 28th, we received orders to be ready to take the cars at 10 A. M. We got all ready but did not start until 29th at 1 P. M. It rained all the afternoon. We did not get to Corinth until 1 A. M. 30th.
We stopped there until 9 A. M. when we got on the cars & started for Iuka. Got there at 4 P. M. It rained all day. We went about 1 mile east of town encamped for the night. The next morn we marched about two miles on the Eastport Road and went into camp. We were mustered in the afternoon for pay, We lay there until Friday, November 6th. We packed up & started at 10 A. M. went to Eastport. After supper, went down to the river & crossed. Went into camp for the night at 8 P. M.
At 1 P. M. the next day we were ordered to get ready to march, took a northeast course marched about ten miles & encamped.
Sunday the 8th we started at sunrise. Marched very slow all day. The roads were quite bad & we were bothered with the teams. After 3 P. M. we worked hard to get about 3 miles. We went into camp at 10 P. M. The next morn we pulled out at daybreak. Went on the advance. Did not encamp until sundown. Made a heavy day’s march. We started again at sunrise. In the morn marched about twenty miles. Went into camp at 2 P. M. by a little creek. The next morn, Wednesday, [November] 11th [1863], we started early as usual. Marched to Pulaski, Tennessee. Went into camp at about 2 P. M. on the opposite side of the river from the town.
The next day our Colonel was appointed Commander of the Post & our regiment to do provost duty. We moved our camp across the river near town the 12th and went to fixing up with the expectations of staying there awhile. On the 15th, we moved into the old College.
On the 27th, there was a rebel spy hung on our parade ground. His name was Davis. About the middle of December, they commenced reenlisting in our regiment. I reenlisted the 29th to date from the 25th.
Veteran’s Furlough
January 9, 1864. We started for home [on a Veteran’s Furlough]. Marched within 7 miles of Columbia & stopped for the night. Sunday 10th we marched to the railroad. 11th, we took the cars at 2½ P. M. at Dark Station. Got to Nashville at 5 P. M. Took up our quarters in the Baptist Church where we stayed until 13th, Wednesday. At 5 A. M., we marched out for the depot. At 6 the cars started out with us for Louisville. arrived there at 5 P. M. Took up quarters in the Soldier’s Home. In the night we were paid our old bounty & all pay then due us—$60 dollars, our bounty and one month’s pay in advance.
We stayed in Louisville until Friday the 15th. We marched out at 6 A. M., went down to New Albany [Indiana], crossed the river & marched to Jeffersonville where we stopped until 8 P. M. awaiting transportation. We took the cars & rode about ten miles when for some reason we had to stop until the next day at noon.
We arrived to Indianapolis at 6 P. M. on the 16th, marched up to Camp Noble for supper, marched back to the depot, took the cars at ten o’clock for Chicago. Arrived there Sunday 12 M. where we found a splendid dinner awaiting us since Saturday night by Ladies of Chicago. After partaking of the refreshments (which we are in a condition to do justice by), took the cars & rode to Geneva [Illinois]. Arrived there at dusk. Marched up to the Court House where we were welcomely received & taken care of for the night by the citizens.
Monday (18th) was consumed in making out furloughs & sending the boys home. I took the cars at Batavia in the evening, stopped at Sandwich where I stayed until morn when I hired a man to carry me to Squaw Grove. Wednesday (27th) I started for home in Owego, New York. Arrived there at 4 A. M. Friday (29th) where I found my folks all surprised but happy to see me. I stayed with them three weeks & had a happy visit.
February 17th [1864], I took the cars at Owego 4 A. M. again for the West, as my furlough would expire on the 19th. Arrived in Chicago at 4 A. M. Friday 19th. I took the cars and went to Sandwich. Arrived in Squaw Grove in the afternoon. Monday morn I took the cars at Sandwich to go to my regiment. I found them in Elgin.
Return to Duty
Wednesday (24th) we started out again for the South with our ranks a considerable filled up with recruits. We got back to Pulaski with but little trouble [on] Monday 29th at 9 P. M. Went in our old quarters in the Old College. We went to work, built some houses, and prepared for summer.
The Long Atlanta Campaign Begins
We stopped in Pulaski until April 29th when we started on a long campaign. We marched to Elkton, crossed the river & went into camp at 2½ P. M. we started again at 8 A. M. & bivouacked on Limestone River at 6½ P. M.
May 1st [1864]. The next morn we pulled out at sunrise (Sunday). The roads were very muddy having rained a great deal the night previous. We got to Huntsville at 2 P. M. where we expected to stop awhile but only stayed over night. We were on the road again Monday at 6 A. M. Marched until 8 P. M. bivouacked on Stone Creek. The next day we marched within two miles of Larkinsville & went into camp.
The next morn, Wednesday 4th, we marched down to the depot & took the cars. Got to Chattanooga at 6 P. M. Went in camp at Lookout Valley. We pulled up at 8 A. M. the next morning and went to Gordon’s Mills about 14 miles. It was a very hot & dusty day. We stayed there all day. Friday 6th, [we] cleaned up our guns.
At 7 A. M. Saturday morn we were again in line and ready for a forward march. we marched about 14 miles & went into camp at 3 P. M. west of Dalton. Sunday morn at six found us again on the move. we marched a southerly directly nearly 20 miles & biboiuacked for the night at 7 P. M.
Monday 9th, we started at 6 A. M. Skirmishing commenced in front at about 7 A. M. which continued all day. We drove the Rebs across Cedar Ferry. Pretty sharp skirmishing all day with some artillery on both sides. At night we fell back about six miles after dark. Tuedsday we lay still all day. At 11 P. M. we were called up in the rain and moved forward to a line of breastworks which had been built during the day. Mud was shoe deep. We took our position & went to work building breastworks. Wednesday [May] 10th, we stayed there all day and completed our works. We were still in camp all day.
11th [May 1864], we started out again the next morn at about 7 A. M. Skirmishing soon commenced which continued all day with artillery in the afternoon with but little loss on either side. The next morn we moved down to Cedar Ferry. Skirmishing commenced about noon which was continued with artillery all the afternoon. The Rebs was on the south side of the river. The piper of the 66th Indiana swam the river under fire and brought a Reb flag away with him which was stuck in the bank on the river. Fighting was heavy all day on our left. Our Brigade moved back in the night between Colhoon & Cedar Ferry.
On the morn of Sunday, [May] 15th [1864], we were hurried up to draw our three days rations. Scarcely time to get them in our haversacks when we were ordered to Cedar Ferry. We threw some shells across the river. the Rebs feel back & we crossed in pontoons—the 2nd Iowa first and we next. The Rebs made a few attempt to drive us back but did not succeed. we soon had our lines formed & our division was soon all across. We held our position. All was quiet all night. We all lay on our arms.
Monday 16th. We moved out about two miles and met the Rebs when skirmishing commenced quite brisk. Tried to get on our flank but were repulsed by the 15th Corps. The Rebs fell back at night.
Tuesday, 17th [May], we lay still all day. The 15th Corps, the rear of their train did not get by until near sundown. Then we were ordered to fall in. We marched about 10 miles in the direction of Rome [Georgia]. Went into camp about 10 P. M. We were up on the road the next morn at 7. Marched slowly until 2 P. M. when we stopped until dark, when we started up again & marched until 12 M.
Thursday we lay still until 1 P. M. We went to Kingston. My company was on picket.
Friday 20th. We moved our camp in the edge of the woods. It was a very warm day. We stayed there until Monday 23rd. We started about 1 P. M., marched to the Etowah River & stopped for supper. We pulled out again & marched about 4 miles & bivouacked for the night. We started out the next morn at 6. We were detailed for train guard with twenty teams to each company. We stopped at 2 P. M. for dinner. Did not start again until 6. It rained very hard in the forepart of the night. Roads were very bad & muddy. Teams moved very slow. Went into camp at 10 P. M. Wet and tired.
Wednesday 25th [May], we fell in at 6 A. M., went about 1 mile and stopped until 2 P. M. It was very hot and we had a very hard march until dark. We were on the road the next morn at 3 o’clock. Marched about 5 miles & halted for rations for we were all getting pretty hungry. We started up again & went near Dallas. Skirmishing was going on quite brisk. We stopped & prepared for the night. Just as we were all ready to turn in for the night, we were ordered up to Sweeny’s Headquarters. We stopped all night at the hospital. Skirmishing commenced the next morn at daylight. We moved out on the line at 7 A. M. Skirmishing continued quite brisk with occasionally a shot from our artillery. We advanced a little at night, threw up breastworks. I was on camp guard.
Saturday 28th. Skirmishing was kept up all day. at about 4 P. M. the Rebs commenced making a charge on our right & closing in on the left. They fought heavy but were repulsed with heavy loss. Ours was nothing.
Sunday 29th. We lay behind our works all day. Skirmishing was kept up all day. At night the Rebs made a slight advancement on our works but did not amount to much—only to annoy us. Monday in the afternoon we moved into the front line of works & were up all night. Tuesday we lay behind our works all day. The hot sun and dust in the ditch to which we had to endure was rather tedious. We did not dare expose ourselves much above the works. In the afternoon, the 66th Illinois advanced on the rebel skirmishers & had quite a skirmish but did not loose much.
Wednesday, June 1st [1864] In the morn we all left our works and moved to the left, threw up breastworks with rails. I went on picket guard. The regiment worked all day throwing up works. There was a little fighting going on on our left. Friday we worked all day on our works. I went on guard again tonight.
Saturday 4th [June], at 11 A. M. I was relieved from guard. We moved a little to our right. Sunday morn we received orders to get ready to march. Marched at 1 P. M. Went into camp at about 7 after marching about 8 miles northeast.
Monday 6th. We started at 9 A. M. Did not march very hard through the day. Went into camp at about 10 P. M. near Acworth where we stayed several days. Friday 10th we marched at about noon. Stopped on the railroad at Big Shanty. It rained all the afternoon & night. Saturday we lay still all day. We were massed in column by division, our brigade in one body. It rained continually so we could not move until in the afternoon of Monday (13th) [when] we moved our camp up on a piece of dry ground where we lay until Wednesday noon.
In the morn of Wednesday 15th, we marched out about 1½ miles to the front & formed in line. There was a considerable skirmishing and cannonading in the afternoon. It was pretty sharp from both sides. We lay still all day and prepared for the night early and turned in but was called up at 10 P. M. & went out about two miles to the front line of breastworks. There was some skirmishing & cannonading kept up all day. We stayed there all night. We were routed up and in the night by a heavy fire on the picket line but did not amount to much.
The next day, Friday, [June] 17th at 5 P. M. we were ordered to fall in & we went out on the skirmish line & relieved the 63rd Ohio of 4th Division. Company E & F was on picket. It commenced raining at 3 A. M. the next morn & rained all day hard. There was some firing kept up all day for we were within sight & shouting distance of the Rebel pickets. We were relieved in the afternoon by Co. B. In the night the Rebs fell back & all was still in the morn. Troops were moving forward all day Sunday.
Monday 20th, we marched out to the front & joined the 1st Brigade of 4th Division. Cannonading was pretty brisk all day & musketry until 9 P. M. Â Tuesday, 21st, we were in camp all day until 5 P. M. when we moved about 1 mile to the right.
Uncle is killed
Uncle [Sgt.] Silas Sutherland was shot in the afternoon while out towards the skirmish line & died the next morn [22 June 1864]. He was missed very much by me for he had been my bunk mate a great while. The next morn I went back to our old camp & got Uncle Silas’ knapsack & gun which had been left. We stayed there until nearly night when we were relieved & went back & joined our brigade near Big Shanty where we left them in the 15th.
[Editors note: Capt. Don C. Newton of Co. D mentioned the wounding of Sergt. Sutherland in his letter of 23 June 1864 as follows: “Sergt. [Silas] Sutherland of Co. G was hit in the breast & mortally wounded, dying the next day. He was out on the skirmish line without orders & was wounded through his own carelessness as you might say.”]
We lay still until 26th at 3 P. M. Received marching orders & moved again out to the front. I was quite unwell. It was very hot marching. We moved up on the line & fixed ourselves for the night. We were then close to the foot of Kennesaw Mountain. We kept throwing shells up to them—sometimes pretty lively—to which they would occasionally respond. We were on a steep side hill.
Tuesday, after breakfast, we moved our camp down on the flat, a few rods to the right. In the afternoon, the regiment was ordered out on the skirmish line. I was not well & did not go. Wednesday 29th [June] the regiment came in from the skirmish line at 3 P. M. They lost one man killed from Co. B. The next day we moved up on the hill again where the 7th Iowa had left to go on the skirmish line.
Thursday, July 1st [1864] we lay still all day. Cannonading was heavy all day. I did not get any better. Saturday we lay still all day. In the evening we received orders to be ready to march at midnight. At the appointed time, we started. I was not able to travel a great ways. After going about 1 mile, I fell out & spread my blanket for the night. the next morn I got up & started at sunrise. At 9 A. M. I found my regiment about 1 mile from where I left them the night before.
The regiment soon received orders to fall in. I started with them but could not  keep up with them so I fell out & lay by the side of the road. I was very sick. One of my company was with me a little while but he went on and left me. In the evening I went on a few miles to a house & stopped & stayed all night.
In the morning of the 4th [of July], I started for Marietta, about 4 miles. Got there about noon. In the evening I reported to myself to the hospital which was just formed in the big Hotel.
I stayed there in that hospital until Sunday 10th [July] when we were all moved out to the field hospital in tents. I was getting some better. The next morn 11th we were loaded on a freight train for Chattanooga. It was noon when we started. Lay in Cartersville all night. We were fooling along all day got in to Chattanooga at midnight.
It was 3 A. M. on Tuesday [that] we were unloaded and taken to the tents in the General Field Hospital. We were all tired out and nearly starved. I stayed there in the one place until August 16th. Did not get much better. I was sent to the Cumberland Hospital in Nashville. Got there in the morning of [August] 17th. Stayed there until the 27th [August]. I was then sent to Louisville. We started at 4½ P. M. When within 60 miles of there, we run into the rear of a train which had partly switched off, leaving three cars on the track & smashed our engine up pretty badly. Threw two express cars off the track which were next to the engine, rolling them down a steep bank. There are a few men wounded but not very seriously. I was in the next car which was started a little from the track. We did not move from three until the next day at noon.
Sunday, [July] 28th. We got the track clear at about noon & rolled out again for Louisville. Got in there at dusk. We got into ambulance & were taken across the Ohio River to Jefferson USA Hospital at 10 P. M. I was there until September 17th. I was [then] transferred to Quincy [Illinois]. Took the cars at Jeffersonville at 2½ P. M. Was obliged to lay over Sunday at Lafayette. Took the cars on Monday morn again & got into Quincy at 1 A. M. Tuesday. I went to No. 4 Hospital and stayed until morning [when] I went to Headquarters, then to No. 2.
I stayed there in the hospital until 24th October when I had improved my health a great deal and got a furlough for thirty days. I got on the cars at Quincy 7 A. M. with Theodore Glenn, rode with him to Galesburg. Stayed all night with him. The next morn I took the passenger train at 9 o’clock. Got into Sandwich at 3 P. M. Got a ride part of the way to Squaw Grove. Stayed too Mr. [William] Ward’s all night.
November 17th [1864]. I was married to Miss Melissa Miller at 7 P. M. in her Father’s house. On the 25th, I returned to Quincy. Got in there at 10 P. M. Went on duty at hospital headquarters on the 28th as clerk. I wrote to Mr. Davenport that I would take his land below Jim Glenn’s at $18 per acre on the 13th of December. We could not agree on terms of payment so we did not make a bargain.
[Editor’s Note: Melissa Miller (1844-1867) was the daughter of Samuel Miller (1809-Aft1860) and Jane (1812-Aft1860) of Squaw Grove, Dekalb County, Illinois.]
I was in the office writing every day until 28th February 1865 when I was taken sick and confined to my bed with a fever. March 7th, I went back in the office again to work. On the 9th March I was ordered to be discharged by [Lt.-Col.] George W. Stipp, Medical Inspector, USA. I was discharged from the United States Service on March 30th, 1865 & went home April 4, 1865.
I worked for Father Miller that summer of 1865. Melissa & I went East in October 1865. Stayed there until February 17th 1866 when we came back home. We stayed at Father Miller’s all summer. I built a house. Melissa’s health was very poor & failed all summer. I took her to see a doctor at Sycamore. I was Town Collector. Done the collecting in the winter of 1866. Melissa died February 9, 1867. I let William Miller & A. G. Jackson work my place. Amos moved in my house in the spring. I make it my home with them, paying two dollars.
Spared & Shared 22 
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