I could not find an image of Horace in uniform but here is a cdv of Charles H. Vorce of Co. E, 81st New York Infantry (Dorian Jaye Collection)
This letter was written by 18 year-old Horace Benjamin Ensworth (1843-1935) of Mexico, Oswego county, New York. He wrote the letter to his father, Backus Ensworth (1812-1882), while serving in Co. B, 81st New York Infantry (a.k.a., the “Mohawk Rangers”). Horace enlisted in the regiment on 29 September 1861 and reenlisted as a veteran in January 1864. He mustered out with the regiment on 31 August 1865 at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, having risen in rank from a private to a sergeant while in the service. An article posted on Find-A-Grave indicates that Horace was among the men in his regiment who liberated the 1600 prisoners held at Libby Prison when they entered Richmond in April 1865.
The 81st New York left the state for Washington on March 5, 1862, was quartered for a short time at Kalorama heights and assigned to Palmer’s brigade, Casey’s division, 4th corps, with which it embarked for the Peninsula with the general advance of McClellan’s army. It was present during the siege of Yorktown; in the battles of Williamsburg and Savage Station; was closely engaged at Fair Oaks, with the loss of 137 killed, wounded and missing, among whom Maj. McAmbly was killed and Lieut.-Col. DeForest wounded. During the Seven Days’ battles the regiment was employed in guarding trains, and after the evacuation of the Peninsula in mid-August 1862, was stationed at Yorktown until December, from which point it undertook a number of expeditions into the surrounding country.
This letter was penned while in camp near Harrison’s Landing in late July 1864 some three weeks after the Seven Days Battles ended.
Transcription
Addressed to Mr. Backus Ensworth, Mexico, Oswego county, New York
Camp near Breakers Point [on James River] July 24, 1862
I received your letter just now and I will answer it now as I have got time. You spoke about your reading something in [Albert] Sydman’s letter [but] I can’t make it out. When you write again, write it plainer.
I am well and in [as] good health as can be expected in this damned country here. When they get all done fighting, I wouldn’t give 50 dollars for the whole state of Virginia and here is thousands of lives lost for nothing. We have ditched [and] under brushed hundreds of acres and slashed thousands of others acres of woodland, [built] miles of rifle pits, and what does it amount to? not so much as a sitting hen. I begin to think that George B. McClellan ain’t the man we want. I for one want this thing done up with and not hang around this God-forsaken country. If they keep on, they won’t have a man that is fit to do anything at all.
You spoke about drafted men. You use to tell me that they would be used as well as volunteers. You will see all of these men that are drafted are put into the rank and file ahead. That is the way with the drafted men. Gen. McClellan said that he didn’t want [the President] to draft. If he did, they would take [to] the front with gunpowder and whiskey. That is what makes the Rebs fight so. When I go into action, that I will know what is pointed towards me.
I received a letter from George Knight too that I must answer today. Well, if I don’t look out, I shan’t get any dinner. It is all ready, table set, [and] the table cloth on.
If they don’t volunteer, they will fetch those some way. I wish that you would send Mary’s likeness on a plate in a letter to so that I could see her once more on small plate—the [same] size of one that I have got of yours that went through the battle of Fair Oaks safe, except [for] the case that got wet and came to pieces and I bought a new case. Take care of grandmother’s likeness so that if I never come home something to look at. That $10 bill I sent you last was taken at the battle of Fair Oaks. A prisoner had it.
You didn’t tell me where that Charley Green was this time as [ ] was on guard yesterday in camp. John is well. Marshall Parker is well. Albert Sydman is well and that is all you know in the company. Well, at present hope to find you and the rest of them the same. Not much more at present. Write often and I will do same. Give my respects to aunt Ruby and the rest of the folks. I guess that Pers will have to bind he wheat alone this year but pluck up courage. There is hopes as long as life. No more at preset. In haste to B. Ensworth, Mexico, Oswego County, N. Y.
Isaac Arnold, Jr. , USMA Library Digital Collection(1862)
This letter was penned by 2d Lieut. Isaac Arnold, Jr. (1840-1901)—an 1862 graduate of the US Military Academy—who enlisted on 17 June 1862 in the Regular Army, 2nd Light Artillery and transferred out of the unit on 27 April 1863 as 1st Lieutenant, after having participated in the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville.
From June 1863 to January 1864 he served as an Asst. Ordnance Officer at Washington D. C. and then went to the St. Louis Arsenal where he remained until 1 May 1864. He then went to Springfield, Illinois, to army volunteers and then took an assignment as Chief of Ordnance, Department of the South at Hilton Head. He was there when the war ended.
After the war he served in various posts until his death in 1901 at the age of 62, his last rank being a Lieutenant Colonel.
Isaac’s letter (rant really) is a four page defense of Gen. George B. McClellan as the commander of the Army of the Potomac. “I think he is the best man in the country to lead an army,” Isaac wrote his father, “but for the 3d time ‘Old Abe’s’ courage has failed and again he yields to the damned politicians of the fanatical school. What they expect to gain is more than I can see.”
Transcription
Camp at Manassas Junction November 16, 1862
Dear Father,
I have not received any letter from you since we left Miner’s Hill except an old one dated October 18th. Of course you have written but they have not got here yet. Well, McClellan is gone from us, I am sorry to say. I think he is the best man in the country to lead an army but for the 3d time “Old Abe’s” courage has failed and again he yields to the damned politicians of the fanatical school. What they expect to gain is more than I can see. They complain of inactivity and just as the army commences to move, they take away a leader in whom all have the utmost confidence. Why? The Abolitionists never meant that “Mac” should take Richmond. The Prince De Joinville explains fully the reason why he failed in the summer campaign and shows where the responsibility rests. Those in power forced him to leave the Peninsula when he promised to take the place in three days. To all of his entreaties, they lent a deaf ear and to his lust replied, “Gen. Halleck has gone to bed, you have your orders and must obey them.” Little Mac foretold the consequences of that movement and alas! too truly.
Again, they refuse to let him go to Centreville even in the capacity of a silent spectator probably fearing he might detract something from the glory of Maj. Gen. Pope. They told McClellan at that time, “All is going well.” He knew and replied that he thought all was not well and the Army of the Potomac (at least) would not fight any the worse for his being amongst them. Pope was whipped as might be expected and Washington was once more in danger. McClellan was again called upon and once more saved the Capitol with an army worn out and disorganized by long marches and its late defeat. He proceeded to meet and conquer a foe elated with success—a string hardly equalled in history.
He is found fault with for not reinforcing Harper’s Ferry, please read the report of the Investigating Committee carefully. Said committee ventures to censure “Mac” and yet they upon the evidence bought before them decide that the place was not defended properly—that Miles neglected to fortify Maryland Heights and could have held out much longer if he had done so, and that at the time he surrendered his force was virtually relieved and succored by Franklin’s and Sumner’s Divisions, sent by McClellan for this purpose. Does not that look a little like envy. I hope to God that McClellan will live to write the history of the Army of the Potomac and not fail to show how he has been fettered.
I suppose we will join Gen. Hooker’s “Army Corps” some time this week. The order is already out for the commander of this division to report to him and we will probable march before long. I shall be glad to go. I went out a little while yesterday and killed 6 grey squirrels. There is plenty of wild turkeys about here but they are wild and I have not been able to get a shot at them yet. I will write again soon. Remember me to all the friends. Love to Mother, Sabra, and Grandmother.
A torchlight parade for Little Mac in October 1864
This letter was written by Pvt. Barney A. Morrow (1844-1894) of Co. A, New Hampshire Heavy Artillery. Barney was born in Manchester, New Hampshire. He was described as a 19 year-old farmer who stood 5′ 6″ tall with grey eyes, brown hair and a dark complexion when he enlisted on 9 September 1864 to serve in the New Hampshire Heavy Artillery. As he indicates in his letter, the regiment was ordered to Portsmouth Harbor in late November 1864. Barney was discharged for disability on 11 September 1865.
After the war, Barney reenlisted in the regular army and rose to the rank of Quartermaster Sergeant. He was discharged Angel Island, California in 1875. When he entered a home for disabled soldiers at Hampton, Virginia, in October 1893, he was a widower and suffering from tuberculosis. He died the following year.
Barney’s letter includes a reference to the mass meeting and torchlight parade held in Washington D. C. on 3 October 1864. He expresses confidence that “Little Mac” will be the next President of the United States “if nothing very great turns up” between the time of his letter and the election a month later. He of course means that if there is no great news of Union victories that would suggest victory was near at hand.
Barney’s letter was written on stationery that featured this colorized lithograph of a poem by Eugene T. Johnston entitled the “Parody on When This Cruel War is Over”
Transcription
Fort Slocum Washington D. C. October 4, 1864
Friend Nutting,
As I had a few moments to spare, I thought I would write you a few lines and let you know that I am alive and kicking. About six weeks ago I left the old school, being honorably discharged. The old cuss found he couldn’t keep me & he had to let me go. I had not been out but a week before I enlisted in the 1st Co. Heavy Artillery now stationed here but we are going back to Portsmouth harbor in Fort Constitution. I enlisted for three years & got my snug little $9.00 dollars so if I go back to the fort, I have made a good thing of it. D. McCarty came out with me & Shattuck hire him over to work for him. 1
I am down to Washington about every day. There is great political excitement here. Last night there was a very great McClellan Meeting and there was a great demonstration—such cannons being fired & a large torchlight procession—and if nothing very great turns up between now and [the] 8th [of November], we will have Little Mac for our next President & I hope to God he will be as I have no doubt you do.
The drum is beating for me to go on guard so I must draw to a close. Please accept these few hasty lines & if it is not too much of an insult, please answer and let me know how things are going on up there. If I go to Portsmouth, I will come and see you. Adieu.
From your friend and old chum, — Barney A. Morrow, Esq
Please direct your letter to me, 1st Co., Heavy Artillery, N. H. Volunteers, Washington D. C.
1 Though Barney has written $9.00, I believe he means $900 which would have been consistent with the bounty being paid by late 1864 for volunteers and/or substitutes for draftees. McCarty may have been a substitute for Shattuck.
I can’t be certain but believe this letter may have been written by Mary E. Loomis (1842-1900) of Windsor, Hartford county, Connecticut (Poquonock Post Office). Mary was the daughter of Anson and Eunice (Simmons) Loomis. She later married Henry Thompson Sperry (1837-1921) and resided in Hartford. Monson Academy was a college-preparatory school in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, for girls and boys.
In her letter to Euphrasia Elliott, Mary mentions all three of Euphasia’s brothers who were serving in the Union army. James and George Elliott were both in the 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery, and Edward was in the 5th Connecticut Infantry. By this time in the war, Edward had already deserted his regiment and fled to Canada which is why Euphrasia had no responses to her letters.
Addressed to Miss J. E. Elliott, North Manchester, Ct.
East Longmeadow, Massachusetts September 22, 1862
My Dear Euphrasia,
I have just come here from Monson and Wilbraham and found your letter at the [Post] Office here. I am glad you had so fine a visit and enjoyed it so well. I too have had a good time generally, and now I wish to settle down somewhere for the winter but not here were salt pork is the fare continually. I have my eye on Stafford Springs, or Hartford, but nothing definite.
I regret to hear that George is sick, and James not well. I hope your next will bring better news. If you have had no answers from Edward, you had better perhaps wait until he writes before you write again. The regiment he was in was all cut to pieces and many of its officers are prisoners in Richmond—Col. Chapman among the number who is also wounded. Perhaps Edward may have been taken prisoner. If so, he will find a way to write after a little while.
McClellan will teach the Rebels, both South and North, that he will not trifle much longer. He is now what Washington was in the old war—the idol of the Army. Banks too has arisen fast and now stands second only to McClellan in the view of the country.
—M. E. Loomis, Civilian, 22 September 1862
Edward Burt is now at Arlington Heights. He has written several long letters home. The last week has been a week of battles—hard ones too. McClellan will teach the Rebels, both South and North, that he will not trifle much longer. He is now what Washington was in the old war—the idol of the Army. Banks too has arisen fast and now stands second only to McClellan in the view of the country. While Pope has shown he can command a small force better than a whole army. But enough of this for the present.
I hope soon to see you. Please just say to Peter, or Alice, that you expect me the first of October. Bring it in easy so that they will not think I sent them word of my coming. Well, I will stop writing for my pen, or ink, or both, are in no condition for letter writing today. Burn this up, if you please. I will tell you all the news when I come. So excuse this miserable half sheet of nothing.
Give my love to your Mother and all the others of your family. Tell Charlie I shall not forget him. I am really too indolent today to do anything in good shape so excuse me this time. Yours as ever, — M. E. Loomis
I could not find an image of Altus but here is a CDV of Samuel Craig who also served in the 77th New York Infantry. He was mortally wounded in the Battle of the Wilderness. (Dana B. Shoaf Collection)
This letter was written by Altus H. Jewel (1841-1910), the son of Asa B. Jewel (1782-1870) and Sarah W. (1798-1849) of Gansevoort, Saratoga county, New York. Jewell enlisted at the age of 21 on 8 September 1862 as a private in Co. E, 77th New York Infantry. He was promoted to full corporal on 31 July 1863 and to full sergeant on 28 January 1865. He mustered out of the regiment on 27 June 1865 at Washington D. C.
Jewel’s letter is full of interesting, lengthy and detailed information. He describes camp life in the most entertaining terms, and then describes witnessing President Lincoln’s visit to the Army of the Potomac, as well as the birth of a baby by one of the soldiers in the 31st New Jersey Infantry!
Camp near White Oak Church Stafford County, Virginia April the 10th, 1863
Dear Father Brother, Brother & Sister
I now take my pen to write a few lines to let you know the condition of my health. It is good. Hoping these few lines will find you the same. I have not had a letter from you in some time. The weather is warm and pleasant. It looks like rain tonight again.
Well, since I commenced this I have been out on Brigade Dress Parade. The whole Brigade was out—six regiments of us. Brigadier Gen. Howe & Neill was out. We still lay here in the same old camp. There is no more signs now of leaving than there were the day that we first encamped here. We begin to think that it is home here. When we go out on picket, we can hear the boys telling about going home meaning to camp. The officers are putting on more good airs than a country tavern. [We] have to black our boots for Dress Parade and Inspections. And if a man comes out on inspection with dirty clothes or a dirty gun, they fine him a dollar. Our tents have to be kept clean, our blankets aired every day, & about every three or four days we have to take our tents and let the insides of them air. I think that they mean to make a Regular Army of us yet.
We shan’t complain as long as we lay here and don’t have to march or fight. We sometimes think that it is useless to go to so much trouble but it is not the case. It is just what makes us tough and healthy. I will tell you what we drew yesterday. We drew five days rations. It consisted of salt pork, bacon, fresh beef, coffee, sugar, turnips, potatoes, beets (we never have drawn turnips & beets before). Besides all this, we will draw beans, molasses, and a loaf of warm bread a day. We do not draw rice very often.
Now for the reasons that the soldiers have drawn it until they are sick of it. If it is drawn and cooked, they won’t eat it. I had rather have a spoonful of sugar than a hundred pounds of it. The soft bread, potatoes, onions &c. have been the making of this army this winter. The hard tack we get have so much brine in them to preserve them that they will soon burn a man. I have drawn them where they were white on the outside with brine.
I will now tell you what I have seen for the last week. We were on picket and could see across the river, or the Rappahannock. We could see lots of encampments & could see the Rebs drilling too. The next day but one after we come [back to] the regiment, [we] went up west of here near Falmouth on Review, this being Wednesday last, and were reviewed by Gen. Hooker & Old Abe. I was on Camp Guard and did not go. I saw Gen. Doubleday & his wife pass that day. The next day being Thursday, I saw the sight—it was Lincoln and his wife. They were in a covered wagon drawn by four horses, & his son—he was not as large as Perry & was riding a horse. He was a real nice-looking fellow. They were followed by General Hooker, Sedgwick, and other generals and officers too numerous to mention that we did not know. They went down toward Belle Plain to review some troops there. When they come back, we gave three cheers for them—-first for Old Abe, then for Hooker, & then for Sedgwick, & then we had to give three cheers for Little Mac. I don’t know what Hooker thought of us for giving three cheers for McClellan but he is the first and the last man that the Army of the Potomac will waste their breath cheering for, but we would cheer three times three if we could get him for our commander again.
I will now give you a small circumstance that happened in the 31st New Jersey Regiment a few days ago. 1 In Doubleday’s Division there is a person in the regiment that come out with it when it first started who went up the Peninsula in front of Richmond, retreated back with the Potomac Army when the Seven Days was, crossed the river with them into Maryland & at the Battle of Antietam was wounded. While at the hospital it was discovered by the steward of the hospital that this person was a woman. When she got well of her wound, she returned to her regiment again. The colonel of the regiment was informed by the hospital steward of what he had discovered but the colonel of the regiment did not make it known to anyone else. A few weeks ago, they went out on picket (she had been promoted to corporal) [and] while they were on picket, this corporal was taken sick. She—or he just as you may have it—went to a private house that was near & had a daughter born. You may think that this is a big story—-it is, but it is a true one. It was as much surprising to the company that she belonged to as it is to me or you. The company had noticed that she always tented with one person and many times when it was her turn to come on duty that her tent mate would take her place, but they had never noticed anything in her countenance or appearance to make them mistrust but what she was a man.
Saturday the 11th. The sun is shining bright and pleasant this morning, seemingly much like spring. Today is the day set by the general for wash day but I washed my clothes a few days ago so that I have not got to wash any today. There is nothing more of importance to write. I put a letter in the office yesterday for Sarah. She sent me her photograph. It looks natural but I think by the likeness that she is very poor or it may be that it is because I am use to seeing fleshy folks here.
I am out of postage stamps again & have borrowed some at that, & I am out of money. When you write, send me five dollars. Put it into a letter between the paper. I don’t know when we will get our pay. We have been expecting it for the last month & expect that yet, but it may be six months before we get it. Write soon and often.
This is from your brother-in-law & son, — Altus H. Jewel
New York Sunday Dispatch, 12 April 1863
1 Though the story about the female soldier may be true, Altus seems to have his facts incorrect as to the soldier’s regiment. The 31st New Jersey was not even mustered into the service until 17 September 1862 (the day of the Battle of Antietam), and they did not join the Army of the Potomac in Virginia until January 1863 when they were brigaded with other New Jersey regiments and the 137th Pennsylvania under the command of Brig, General Gabriel R. Paul in Reynold’s 1st Corps. A search of period newspapers yielded the following story which bears such strong resemblance to Altus’s story that I’m confident they were referring to the same soldier. Curiously, however, the article says nothing of a baby being born which may have been an exaggeration of the story.
“Another romantic Incident of the War. A letter from the 49th [New York] Regiment adds one to any romantic incidents of a similar nature connected with the present war. A few days since, a corporal of the 20th N. Y. Regiment, the camp of which adjoins that of the 49th, was taken sick, and had to be placed in the Regimental Hospital, where, in the course of attendance upon the sick soldier, it was discovered that a female form had been concealed under his corporalship’s jacket and trousers. The woman had been with the regiment since it first entered the field, two years ago, her sex never suspected. Of course, there was love at the bottom of the affair; but it detracts somewhat from the romance of the story to learn that the adventurous Amazon has been tenting all the time with her lover.” — New York Sunday Dispatch, 12 April 1863
There are a couple of recent articles appearing on the web that refer to an unnamed New Jersey woman whose “military bearing” and “gallant conduct” in battle so impressed her senior officers that she was promoted from corporal to sergeant—shortly before she gave birth! [See “Union Blue, Confederate Gray but with a Dark of Pink” and “I wanted to do my Part”] These stories probably originated at the time that Altus wrote his story home but the lack of specificity in name and regiment leaves me dubious as to its accuracy. There was a woman named Elizabeth A. Niles from New Jersey who claimed long after the war that she served with her husband in the 4th New Jersey Infantry but her sex was never discovered by others in the regiment. There is a list of confirmed Female Soldiers who fought in the Civil on Wikipedia and I have not found a woman among them that seems to fit the profile of this story.
I could not find an image of Henry Joy but here’s one of James Bailey who also served as a young officer in the 3rd New York Cavalry.
These notes were retrieved from the field ledger kept by Henry S. Joy (1840-1881) of Rochester, New York, who served in the 3rd New York Cavalry during the Civil War. Henry entered the service in August 1861 and was quickly commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant and Battalion Quartermaster. He was promoted to a 1st Lieutenant in September 1862 and served as the Regimental Quartermaster until December 1863 when he mustered out. He then returned as Captain of Co. M in the same regiment.
Henry was the son of Sidney B. Joy (1807-1852) and Emily C. Joy (1807-1886) of North Java, Wyoming county, New York. After the war, Henry returned to New York and engaged in the furniture business in LeRoy. He was a Democrat in politics and served as an assemblyman representing Wyoming county after the war. In 1881, a newspaper notice informed readers of the Buffalo News that Henry had “become insane on board a steamer when returning from Florida” in May of that year and was “pronounced incurable and taken to the Utica Insane Asylum.” He died a month later.
Most of Henry’s papers have been donated to the U. S. Heritage and Education Center.
Lt. Henry S. Joy’s Field Ledger (Greg Herr Collection)
Transcription
Went to Chain Bridge August 20 [1861]. Visited the camp of the 33rd [New York], Col. [Robert F.] Taylor. In the afternoon witnessed a review by General McClellan of General [William F.] Smith’s Brigade [Division]. The 31 Regiments composing the brigade [Division] were formed into line—open order—and McClellan and staff rode through scrutinizing closely every man. He is a fine-looking man but has been so much exposed to the hot August sun that he is bonzed like a Texan.
President Lincoln [and] Secretaries Seward, Cameron, and Chase were also present and witnessed the firing of the battery which commands the river and the bridge. Lincoln is as rough and unassuming as when he was an ordinary lawyer in Springfield, Illinois. “Pigmies perched on Alps are pigmies still!”
Secretary Seward I have always had a great curiosity to see which was fully gratified. He is a different-looking man than I had imagined him to be with a full-leaf Panama Hat which concealed the whole of his countenance but his interminable & exhaustless nose. He resembled a moderate sized toad sitting under an overspreading cabbage leaf.
Secretary Chase is a fine-looking man and has a look of intelligence. Of Secretary Cameron I could not look at him without thinking of Pennsylvania Railroad Speculations and what excellent roads they were to transport the soldiers to Washington—superior to all others in the Union. And then again, what great facilities his friends in Philadelphia had for manufacturing clothes &c. &c. No other city could begin with it. And besides, what an excellent place to select Generals from—excellent—glorious institutions of ours and giants to administer the government.
Sunday, September 1, 1861—A beautiful day here in Maryland. Everything has the appearance of war. Regiment after regiment are to be seen on every hand. Some two miles from where we are encamped through a romantic country is a fort surrounding a small brick church which is perfectly enclosed by a high embankment of clay and soil with a big ditch in front so as to render it inaccessible to outsiders. 1 Two miles from there to another, mounting several large guns. And the trees for several miles around have been axed to the ground.
Commenced writing for Lieut. Col. Mix on September 4, 1861. Boarding at Brown’s opposite the camp.
Left amp Ba__ on Friday, September 14, 1861. In company with Col. [Simon Hosack] Mix, Adjutant Mix, and three companies of cavalry to join Gen. Banks Division. Scott and I came on through the same night to Headquarters. Co. A joined Captain and Lieutenants all right. We are encamped about 1 mile from Darnestown and 5 miles from the Potomac. On this vicinity the country is rough and uneven. There are a great many fine farms. Gen. Banks is within gunshot of our camp. I have seen him several times and like his looks very much and think him a man imminently fitted for the position he occupies. 2 I was out riding a few days and overtook him and his aid and body guard. We rode on a short distance and met Gen. Scott in a carriage. He stopped, went into the woods, had a short conversation, or rather a lengthy one with General Banks, and returned.
1 This earthen fort must have been Fort Massachusetts which was later expanded and renamed Fort Stevens. My friend Bryan Cheeseboro provided me with a blueprint of the original fort which clearly indicates the Brick church within, on 7th Street Turnpike. From Lt. Joy’s notes we know that the church was still standing in September 1861—the fort having been built up around it. According to historical records, that church was the Emory Methodist Church which served a congregation of a little over 70 members, some of whom were Black. Apparently when the fort was expanded, the church was demolished.
Fort Massachusetts as it looked in 1861(National Archives Catalogue)
This sketch of Fort Massachusetts dates to August 1861 and probably reveals the church beyond the flagpole. (The Defenses of Washington 1861-1865)
2 In August 1861, Nathaniel Banks was assigned to western district of Maryland. He was responsible for the arrest of legislators sympathetic to the Confederate cause (as was John Adams Dix, who succeeded Banks in the eastern district) in advance of legislative elections. This, combined with the release of local soldiers in his army to vote, ensured that the Maryland legislature remained pro-Union.
[Note: The following transcription comes from a letter that is posted for sale at The Excelsior Brigade.]
3rd New York Cavalry Headquarters, 2nd Battalion Van Allen Cavalry
October 6th 1861 Camp Near Darnstown
Dear Sister,
Yours of a few days since came to hand in due season and was heartily welcomed and as I am alone this afternoon having been hard at work since morning, I write you a short letter. I am commanding officer this week as the Major and nearly all the men have gone to Frederick City to protect the election, which comes off today, and I am the highest officer in camp, which imposes double duty on me. Walter has been here a day or two helping me as he is only two miles from camp. His health is very good, as well as that of the entire company. They have comparatively an easy time.
It’s an awful cold windy day and my “Cotton Tarmac” flaps wildly so that I can scarce write at all. The storm of last week was terrible as we were encamped near the [Potomac] river on Muddy Branch, which overflowed its banks and rushed through our camp like a torrent. It made lively work for us all and the next day we got permission to move to higher ground. They are erecting a larger fort near General Banks’ Headquarters to command the opposite shore. It’s all uncertainty with us. We never can tell today where we may be. Or what be doing tomorrow. A true soldier learns to eat his pork and ask no questions and obey orders.
We have the promise of going to Washington or Baltimore as mounted patrol to stay through the winter. But cannot tell whether we shall or not as you can tell nothing until you receive orders saying go. I was in Washington last week and wrote quite a long letter home from which is something I seldom ever do nowadays. I find no time to write to anyone and out of all my old correspondents have dropped them all. Received a letter from Mr. Jones a few days ago. Everybody was well. I am tougher and heartier than ever before in my life. I am in the saddle every day, which agrees with me finely. What regiment is Joe Hutchins in? As I may be where I could see him if I only knew where to look for him.
Our naval expedition is reported all safe.
Remember me to all and write very soon. Your brother, — Henry S. Joy
I could not find an image of Samuel Clayton but this chisel-faced, hardened soldier matches my imagination of his appearance. (Paul Loane Collection)
These two diaries were kept by 60 year-old Samuel Clayton (1803-1891)—a private in Co. D, 95th Pennsylvania Infantry (a.k.a., “Gosline’s Zouaves”). Samuel enlisted on 4 September 1861 and he was discharged on a surgeon’s certificate on 26 March 1864.
Samuel was married to Rebecca Scott in the early 1830’s while living in New Jersey. By 1850 he was employed as a watchman in Philadelphia and was the father of at least five children, his eldest son named David. In 1860, he was residing in Philadelphia’s 2nd Ward and employed as a stevedore—a job well-suited for his duties as a teamster in the military service and to which he returned after the Civil War.
In the back are handwritten notes in blue ink “my grandfather‘s book, name is Samuel Clayton was in Civil War, I am his granddaughter. My name is Rebecca McConnell, 1104 S 31st St. Phila. Pa.” Located in the front: “My grandfather was Samuel Clayton—was in the soldier home at Hampton Rd., Virginia.” Also written in front “my grandfather Samuel Clayton’s war book the Civil War, Rebecca Johnson, granddaughter.” Samuel Clayton eldest daughter, Loretta Clayton (1833-1910) seems to have been married to William Blake in 1860 and later to John McConnell who died prior to 1888. Rebecca McConnell was their daughter.
Curiously, Samuel Clayton makes absolutely no mention of his family throughout either of the diaries until the last page of the second diary whereupon he actually wrote his wife a letter, perhaps in conjunction with his sending the diary home for safekeeping. He mentions sending money “home” a few times in his diaries but there are no references to letters sent or received from his family, no mention of anxieties about home and family, nor to any particular family members that I was able to recognize. Neither does he express any opinions or views upon the war aims, its progress, or his attitude toward slavery or the Black race in general, except to say in one entry (on 30 October 1862), “a Black man called me a Son of a Bitch & I forgave him.”
Though Samuel was not identified as a teamster in the company records (as fas as I can tell), his diary entries make it clear that he was often called upon to drive the baggage trains and to fetch rations, supplies, and building materials for the regiment with his mule team, as was customary with soldiers of that age. Most of the time, however, he seems to have encamped with the regiment and been near them in their marches—usually behind but sometimes ahead of the regiment and perhaps in company with other regiments in the 6th Army Corps wagon trains. If he participated in any battles, with the exception of guerrilla raids on their wagon trains or being under attack by Confederate shelling—he did not say so in his diary entries. His diary entries frequently mention visiting the scenes in the aftermath of battles and seeing the wounded. His observations at Burkittsville following the Battle at Crampton’s Gap in mid-September 1862 are particularly poignant.
[Note: Samuel’s handwriting was difficult to read and I have done the best I could to faithfully transcribe his writing as accurately as possible, making only slight grammatical but extensive spelling corrections so as to enable the reader to more easily digest his meaning. I have attempted to identify all of the places mentioned in the diaries but, not being familiar with this part of Virginia—particularly Culpeper county—I have asked my friend and fellow historian Clark Hall to review the diaries and provide me with any corrections and observations he may choose to share for which I am grateful and anxiously await his input.]
Samuel Clayton’s two pocket diaries. The smaller diary measures 3×5 inches and has daily entries from 16 January 1862 to 16 January 1863. The larger diary measures 3.5×6 inches and has daily diary entries from 22 August 1863 to 14 December 1863. The smaller diary is missing the back cover and closing flap.
1862 Diary Entries
Left Philadelphia October 12, 1861. Arrived at Kendall Green [two miles north of the U.S. Capitol Building] on October 13th. December 13th, John Johnson was shot. Oct. 29th—Left Kendall Green for Bladensburg.
January 16, 1862—We got our stove.
January 17—We went out on picket. Signed the pay roll.
January 21—Sent home 20 dollars. Came of picket. Co. H presented the Colonel with a sword & belt.
January 23—Went on picket.
January 28—Got our leggings.
March 5th [1862]—The 10th left Camp Franklin and arrived at Fairfax at 7 o’clock in the afternoon.
12th—Three days living on crackers and no coffee. No meat.
13th—We got some coffee and bread.
14th—We left Fairfax and encamped in the roadside for the night.
15th—Arrived at Camp Franklin. It rained all night on the march. Our clothes being wet through when we arrived at Camp Franklin, we were flooded out of our tents with the rain.
22nd—Drew a new cap and pants and pocket.
30th—Arrived at Camp Franklin about 6 o’clock afternoon.
25th—Reviewed by General McDowell
27th—Reviewed by General [Mc]Clellan.
28th—Serenaded General McClellan. Here the Seminary where he made a speech to all of the regiments between the hours of nine and ten o’clock at night.
A 95th Pennsylvania Kepi belonging to Joseph Greeley who also served in Co. D; the sixth-plate ambrotype is of another member of the 95th but is unidentified (Bruce Hermann Collection)
29th—Dress parade and Brigade drill. It snowed in the afternoon. The regiment fired blank cartridges. Gen. McClellan made a speech to the 95th [Pennsylvania] Regiment. “Comrades, I have come to thank you for the present and the past and the future. The past for the excellent discipline which is a credit to Philadelphia and the army, and as far as I am personally concerned, for the pleasant smiles and kind faces with which [you] have greeted me. The present for your kindness coming here tonight. The future for I know from what I seen of you this morning and from what faces I [can] see by the light of the lantern, that on the battlefield, when I want a regiment to fight with me—and die with me—I can call on you to the last man. Can I not? Cheers after cheers of “Yes!” [He went on,] “It may not come to that, I think we can conquer them without that. But if it does come to that, I will expect you to do it.” “Three cheers for General McClellan and for Philadelphia!”
[March] 30th [1862]—Thunder in afternoon. Read an account of the Powder Explosion [at] Tenth & Read Streets, Philadelphia, where a number of lives were lost.
31st—Reviewed by Governor [Andrew] Curtin at the Seminary at half past three o’clock in the afternoon.
April 5th—Marching orders this morning to leave at nine o’clock. Received three days rations. The morning wet. At 11 o’clock, orders countermanded by Colonel [John M.] Gosline.
April 6th—Packed knapsacks ready for marching. The morning fine. Cooked our own coffee for breakfast. Left Camp Franklin about nine in the morning and halted at the Orange Railroad. When we arrived, there was two men who were arrested for selling liquor to the soldiers—one of them acting as Second Lieutenant. Having his stripes cut off, they were tied with a piece of strong rope and a guard put over them. About three o’clock we started by railroad cars for Bulls Run and Manassas and about 6 o’clock the cars of the 18th Regiment broke down when there was a number lamed. Our regiment being ahead of them came in. Parted about half past nine o’clock when we had one man killed and some others wounded—Mc. being one of them and the other man’s name McDade. The rest I did not know. The man that was killed was a shocking sight to see. We arrived at Manassas about one o’clock and stopped in the cars all night until morning when we started for Bristoe Station—a distance of 8 miles—where we pitched tents for the night. We arrived about four o’clock in the afternoon when it commenced raining and snowed all the time and us living on the damp ground. [We were] ordered to dig trenches round our tents to let the flood away.
[April] 8th—Orders to draw three days rations.
11th—Marching orders from Camp Bristoe. Marched about 6 miles when they were countermanded to return back to Alexandria.
12th—Ready for the start. The morning fair. Left Camp Bristoe about nine o’clock in the morning. Marched to Manassas and Bulls Run, and arrived at Fairfax about 6 o’clock in the afternoon. We slept in the woods all night.
13th—Left Fairfax about 7 o’clock and arrived at Camp Franklin at 3 o’clock in the afternoon, being well tired of our march.
16th—Got orders to go and guard on the Leesburg Turnpike.
17th—Returned at eight o’clock from guard duty. Orders to ship at Alexandria for Yorktown. The day fine. We started and left camp at nine o’clock and arrived in Alexandria about two in the afternoon when we took our place on board of the steamship, State of Maine.
18th—Hoisted anchor and started down the [Potomac] river.
19th—Cast anchor at Shipping Point about nine o’clock. A large number of troops in the river. We are waiting orders. We received our pay about 7 o’clock in the afternoon.
21st—Sent home 20 dollars in charge of Capt. [Jacob H.] Beattes and signed for [John] Johnson to get paid out of the company funds.
May 1st 1862—The morning dark and [looks] like rain.
May 2nd—The morning dark like rain. Orders of General Newton [for] all officers [&] men to go ashore and the regiment to commence drill as usual.
4th—To pack all up. Inspection of arms. Knapsacks came on board. Afternoon, the Rebels evacuated Yorktown and our sentry are outside of theirs.
5th—Our troops in possession of Yorktown. The place seems well fortified. The day wet. Are still on board the steamboat. They spiked some of the guns before they left.
6th—Still on board. The morning fine. Yorktown fortified in all directions the best I ever seen. It is situated on a hill close by the riverside. Some fine houses in it. We laying close by the river. About eight o’clock all well. Getting three days rations. We are on our way to Richmond.
7th—Landed about 8 o’clock at West Point. One man shot on picket. Orders to skirmish through the woods. We went about seven o’clock in the morning. We fell in with companies of Rebels which commenced heavy firing on both sides. We had our Captain wounded and some of our men. There was one captain had his horse shot from under him.
8th—Under arms. Ready for the battle. The day fine. We had reinforcements. The enemy uses our wounded bad. A detail sent after our dead.
9th—The morning fine. Some word of us moving from here. Two of our company missing. Corporal Naghes [Jacob Knorr?] wounded. Private [John L.] Hanna. Orders at one o’clock. We marched about three miles through the woods where we pitched tents. Our gunboats laying close by.
10th—The regiment under orders at four o’clock in the morning. All well. Country looks nice.
11th—The morning fine. Marching orders at eight o’clock. Received two days rations. Left camp about eight o’clock. Marched about three miles where we pitched tents for the night. Seen Gen. McClellan in the afternoon.
12th—The morning fine. All well. We are encamped in the woods. A detail sent out after one of our men named [James] Sweeney [who was] shot by the enemy and buried him. Day warm.
13th—The morning fine. We left camp about 5 o’clock in the morning. Marched about 10 miles where we formed a line of battle close by the enemy. We arrived about three o’clock in the afternoon. The day warm. All well.
14th—The companies under arms at four o’clock in the morning. We are encamped close by the Pamunkey River.
15th—Morning wet. The regiment under arms at 4 o’clock in the morning. Marched eight miles and pitched tents at the White House. Arrived at 9 o’clock.
16th—The morning fair. We are encamped on the farm of Colonel Lee which is a nice place. He owns a large number of slaves.
17th—The morning fair. Orders to march at 11 o’clock. The day warm. Three days rations in haversacks.
18th—The morning fair. Inspection of arms. All well.
19th—Left camp at six o’clock in the morning. Marched about 5 miles. We pitched tents. The day wet.
20th—The morning fine. Left camp about three o’clock. We marched five miles where we pitched tents for the night.
21st—The morning fine. Under orders at 4 o’clock in morning. Orders to march at 7 o’clock in the morning. Looks like rain. The country looks pretty. Left camp at 7 o’clock. Arrived at camp a distance of 7 miles. The day warm. We pitched tents for the night.
22nd—The morning fine. All well and the balloon ascension this morning.
[“On May 22nd Lowe had his small one-man balloon, the Excelsior, quickly inflated by the 4thMaine and began taking officers up, one at a time, for a look at the new surroundings. Lowe himself reported having a fine view of Richmond seeing the streets, churches, and people moving about the town. Although the area was heavily wooded, maps of the roads leading into Richmond and the location of the observed Rebel positions and fortifications were made and continually updated with new information. Large troop movements in and out of Richmond were easily observed.” Civil War Ballooning During the Seven Days Campaign]
23rd—The morning fine. All well.
24th—The morning dark like rain. Balloon ascension about 5 o’clock.
25th—Orders to march in the morning. Left camp about ten o’clock. Marched three miles. We pitched tents in the woods. The country looks handsome. Ordered to go on picket. The regiment left camp about 6 o’clock afternoon. We marched about three miles when we pitched tents in the woods all night. All well.
26th—We still remained on picket. The 96th [Pennsylvania] Regiment relieved us about five o’clock afternoon. We marched for camp about three miles.
27th—The morning wet and all well.
28th—The morning fine. All well.
29th—The morning fine. All well. Company inspection afternoon.
30th—The morning dark. Little rain. All well. Tremendous thunderstorm and rain in the afternoon.
31st—The morning dark like rain. All well.
June 1st 1862—The company called out at half past twelve o’clock at night for the purpose of building bridges. Returned to camp at 7 o’clock in the morning. All well.
2nd—The morning fine. All well.
3rd—All well, The morning fine. Heavy thunder and rain last night. Received our new guns.
[The Austrian rifle with four-square bayonet was exchanged for the Springfield Rifle]
4th—Orders to go on picket. Our regiment got relieved by the 3rd New Jersey Regiment.
5th—The morning dark like rain.
6th—All well. The morning dark like rain.
7th—Balloon ascension this afternoon.
8th—All well. The morning fine.
9th—The morning fine.
10th—The morning wet. All well.
11th—The morning like rain. All well. Company drill.
12th—The morning fine. Orders to go on picket duty at 9 o’clock.
13th—The morning fine. We got relieved by the 27th [Pennsylvania] Regiment.
14th—The morning fine. All well.
15th—The morning fine. We changed our camp ground in the afternoon. The evening wet.
16th—The morning fine. Going on picket.
17th—We got relieved in the morning by the 5th Maine Regiment. We returned to camp. All well.
18th—Morning fine. All well. Orders to move. All ready.
19th—Left camp this morning & marched about 6 miles. We pitched tents on the other side of the Chickahominy river.
20th—The morning fine. All well.
21st—Company under arms at 3 o’clock in the morning. Went on road building.
22nd—The morning fine. All well. Heavy firing on the left wing this morning.
23rd—The morning fine. Sent 20 dollars home. Company under arms at 3 o’clock.
24th—The company under arms at 3 o’clock. Morning dark.
25th—The morning fair. Near Fair Oaks, the Rebels shelled us but done no harm.
26th—Still at the same place.
27th—Packed up & marched for Savage Station. The Colonel [Gosline] & Major [Hubbs] died that morning. [Battle of Gaines’s Mill]
28th—Still on the march. The rebels following in the rear.
29th—Still on the march. The Rebels in the rear.
30th—Still on the march. The Rebels in rear.
July 1st—Still on the march, The Rebs in the rear.
July 2—Still on march. In line of battle. Forming in our rear, the Rebels driven back with great loss.
3rd—Arrived at City Point. The Rebels in our rear & afraid to attack us.
Members of Co. D, 95th Pennsylvania Vols. shown on the skirmish line with their new Springfield Rifles in the summer or fall of 1862 (Ronn Palm Collection)
4th—We took up our line of march. The Rebels retreating back. Received reinforcements of 20,000 troops and took 6 batteries, 5,000 prisoners. The band playing our National air Yankee Doddle.
5th—The weather fair. All quiet. The regiment called to arms at 3 o’clock in the morning.
6th—The morning fair. All hands well & quiet. We moved Sunday night. All quiet.
7th—We moved 1 mile further. Nothing new.
8th—At the same place. All quiet. The regiment out on fatigue duty the night before. Came in at 4 o’clock in the morning & Bill Clayton came to see me.
9th—Still laying in the same place. All quiet and all hands well.
10th—All well. The weather very hot. Gen. Robert Patterson arrived with his regiment.
11th—Morning clear. Rain in the afternoon. Nothing new. Rebels retreated.
12th—Morning wet. The regiment went about 2 miles out on picket duty. I went to the landing and David McGulgan wounded in the arm.
13th—Sunday morning fair. All hands well.
14th—The morning fair. A salute fired for the arrival of General Burnside.
15th—All quiet and the weather fair.
16th—The weather fair until night when it rained torrents. All quiet.
17th—The morning fair. Everything quiet. The regiment on picket.
18th—The morning fair.
19th—Same as before.
20th—The morning fair but very warm. Nothing new.
21st—The morning fair. Two soldiers buried from 31st Regt. New York Vols.
22nd & 23rd—All well. One from the 18th N. Y. Vols. buried on the 23rd of July.
24th—The weather cloudy. Buried two soldiers from the New Jersey Regiment.
25th—Friday, the weather fair. Nothing new.
26th—Morning fair and warm. Rain at night. Thomas [S.] White died and was buried the same day with sun stroke.
27th—Sunday morning fair. The regiment out on picket. Nothing new.
28th—The morning fair. All quiet.
29th—Morning dreary. The day cloudy & warm. Nothing new.
30th—The weather cloudy and with rain. Nothing new.
31st—Rainy. Nothing new.
August 1, 1862—The rebels opened their batteries on us at 1 o’clock in the morning killing some men & some horses. Our batteries opened on them with siege guns and made them run double quick. The weather fair & warm.
August 2nd, Saturday—Nothing new. All quiet.
3rd, Sunday—All quiet. Went back in the evening.
4th, Monday—The morning fair. All quiet. Nothing new.
5th, Tuesday—The morning fair. There was heavy firing and a battle on Malvern Hill. Rebels defeated with great loss, the cavalry bringing in 27 prisoners and our [troops] have the Rebels surrounded.
6th—The morning fair and very warm. Nothing new.
7th—The day fair & very hot. Our regiment out on picket duty. Came in on the 8th.
8th—The 31st & 9th going on picket. Weather very warm. The quarter master arrived at camp and William Haveland send to the hospital, being very sick.
9th—Weather very warm—warm enough to knock a man down in the sun. Our regiment ordered out to march but the orders were countermanded and all the knapsacks taken away & do not know where they are going to. Same orders but are countermanded. In same place.
10th—Weather very hot. Nothing new. Still got marching orders.
11th—Same as yesterday.
12th—The weather warm and we had 1 of our men to die from sun stroke. His name Thomas White.
13th—We are ready to move but did not go.
14th—Morning fair. Same as yesterday.
15th—Started and traveled all night. Came to a halt. Camped on a field near the road.
16th—Started again & traveled through Williamsburg & had a view of the battleground. Came to a stop to feed & rest all night.
17th—Stopped on a field for the night.
18th—Traveled all day & arrived at Yorktown.
19th—Traveled all day and arrived at Newport News & we expect to rest two days after traveling 100 miles. We did not lose a man on the road & we rested on the 20th.
21st—Marched to Hampton Roads & me & messmates went to look at the ruins that the Rebels left behind them. Marched back to Newport News in the afternoon.
22nd—Morning wet. Was ordered on board the steamboat J. A. Warner. We traveled on board.
23rd—Still on steamer. Arrived at Alexandria after traveling 120 miles. Laid on the river all night.
24th—Still on board. We are at Alexandria, we laying at anchor all night.
25th—Went on shore at 6 o’clock in the morning. We moved to the Little River Turnpike 2 miles from Alexandria.
26th—Morning fair. We went into Alexandria. Got dinner & whiskey & it cost 7 dollars apiece.
27th—Weather fair. Still laying at same place.
28th—Same as yesterday. The Rebels cut the Jersey Regiment to pieces. The Gen. Taylor lost his leg in the battle near Bull Run.
29th—Started from Alexandria & arrived Annandale. Laid in the wagon all night.
30th—We started & marched from Annandale to Fairfax & we were surrounded by troops consisting of artillery, cavalry, & infantry. There is no end of their coming. We have Stonewall Jackson surrounded [but] with all this, he managed to get out through McDowell. We had to fall back to Centreville. We took 1,000 prisoners but lost many an officer besides many killed & wounded of our men.
31st—The weather stormy. We fell back with our wagon train which was shelled while on the march. We had two horses & 1 man killed.
A great photograph shared from the collection of David Holcomb of a 3rd Corps Supply Wagon such as might have driven by Samuel Clayton. The wagons were often pulled by six mules and the driver rode one of the mules.
September 1st [1862]—The weather cloudy. We stopped at Fairfax and made our coffee and traveled on our way and reached Alexandria in the afternoon.
2nd—We marched to Camp Misery on the Potomac River. Stopped for the night.
3rd—We took up line of march and came through Alexandria and arrived at our old Camp Franklin and it being 6 months that we left it.
4th—The morning fair and all quiet.
5th—The morning fair and all quiet. Regiment came in from picket.
6th—The morning fair and all quiet and pitched tents on Camp Franklin. Received marching orders to move at a minute’s notice. Left camp at 8 o’clock and crossed the bridge over the Potomac and past the Washington buildings at 12 o’clock and traveled on the road all night and arrived in Maryland about 2 o’clock in the morning and all well and traveled about 10 miles to Georgetown Heights.
8th—Took up line of march & marched 9 miles & encamped on the road. The morning fair. We marched through Rockville about 9 o’clock in the morning. A large town. Halted on a hill for the night.
9th—Morning fair. Still marching at 8 o’clock & traveled all day & halted at night in a valley back of a woods. On Monday, had a fight with the Rebels while on the march and drove them. The next morning they drove in our pickets & fell back. We had our Division up in line of battle and our artillery stationed on a hill in front.
10th—Morning cloudy. All well & our army still in line of battle. We passed through Dawsonville.
11th—Morning cloudy. On the march about 8 o’clock and passed by the Sugar Loaf Mountains & in full chase after the Rebels.
12th, Tuesday—Marched 15 miles. The weather cloudy. Got orders to march. Our pickets drove in the Rebel pickets, killing two of their cavalry & planting the flag on the Sugar Loaf Mountain. The Rebels are entrenching on the Monocacy. Defeat of Ashby’s Cavalry, they losing 15 killed. Do not know how many wounded. We lost 7 killed, 1 wounded. 36 Rebel prisoners. Commenced the march at 9 o’clock. On our road, took the Rebel Gen. Hill. Marched 20 miles. Passed through Heights Town and encamped.
13th—We getting ready to march our men on ahead fighting, we passed Sugar Loaf & [Ca]Tocton Mountain, crossed the Creek Monocacy & a large mill at top of a hill. Passed our wounded through Buckeystown and encamped on the road at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountain.
Artist’s rendering of the Battle at Crampton’s Gap. The town of Burkittsville was filled with wounded soldiers—mostly Rebels—who were treated in makeshift hospitals. Over a dozen buildings in the town, including its two churches, school house, barns, outbuildings, and houses were filled with wounded.
14th—After marching 8 miles, got up at 3 o’clock to march, the sun raising splendid & all well. No news from the front. We passed over the top of the Greble [Gambrill] Mountain. Traveled through Jeffersonville & stopped near the Alleghany where they was fighting—the cannon never ceasing. The Rebels defeated & driven back with a great loss. Our Brigade took 2 pieces of artillery. The Colonel [Roderick Matheson] & Major [George Frank Lemon] of the 32nd New York was wounded. We drove them from the top mountain [at Crampton’s Gap] & took 200 prisoners. Traveled 20 miles today.
15th, Monday—Morning fair. Ordered to march. Passed through Burkittsville & seen a sight that I never want to witness in my life again—the dead and dying. The groans of the wounded was awful. The churches and school house were full of wounded Rebels. There was only a few of our men there. The ambulances was busy fetching in the wounded all night. We have taken 1500 prisoners & killed about 600 of them. They make the Rebels bury their own dead & they asked us for tobacco which we gave them. Among the prisoners is majors, captains, and other officers. We encamped in a woods near Burkittsville. We took a walk over the battlefield & seen all the dead. Among the dead are 11 belonging to the 96th Pennsylvania & 4 to the 18th New York. We pitched tents in view of the battlefield and laid down to sleep.
16th, Tuesday—-Morning fair & all quiet. The Rebels not done burying their dead after two days hard work. It will take a week to finish. we take as much care of their wounded as we do of our own. Seen the burying of legs and arms that had been taken off the wounded. We passed through Crampton’s Gap on the Blue Ridge & came to a halt in the woods opposite Pleasant Valley where our regiment lay. We saw many a prisoner whilst on the way [who were] taken after the battle. we marched two miles.
17th—Morning fair. The battle [at Sharpsburg] raging all night, continued till morning. Took up a line of march at 8 o’clock and marched through Rohrersville. At 10 o’clock our men [had] driven the rebels very hard. Came to a halt on the road. The Rebels flying before the artillery, cutting them to pieces as they run. Encamped 1 mile above Rohrersville for the night.
18th—All quiet. Firing commenced at 8 o’clock. Rebs not to be found. We got ready to start at 12 o’clock on towards the battlefield. Came to a halt & parked in an apple orchard for the night.
19th—Morning fair. All quiet. Took up the march at 9 o’clock & passed through Sharpstown [Sharpsburg] at 10 o’clock & stopped on the battle ground & saw 42 Rebels in one place & also 22 of the 28th Pennsylvania buried in the woods near the battle ground. We saw thousands of dead Rebels on the battlefield unburied. We marched through Sharpstown [Sharpsburg] and got on the Ring Road. Encamped for the night. The Rebs crossed the river into Virginia.
20th—Morning cloudy. Getting ready for a march. Came to a halt in the woods. Then commenced firing on the Rebs while they were crossing.
21st—Morning foggy. Commenced packing up to move at 12 o’clock at night & did not march until 7 in the morning. Passed through Killingtonville & a Jones’ Crossroads. Came to a halt on the road for the night.
22nd, Monday—Morning fair. All quiet on the opposite side of the river. The Rebels waiting for a chance to cross. Men ready for them. Rebels laying dead on the field 6 days unburied. They turn black & swell so they cannot be touched. Our quartermaster [John Haviland] has resigned & expects to leave tomorrow.
23rd, Tuesday—Morning fair. Orders to move but was countermanded. 3 o’clock P. M., started and passed through a village called Mt. Moriah. Came to a halt in a field near the roadside & received a gift of apple butter from our quartermaster sergeant. We eat heartily. There was 4 spoonfuls for 8 men.
24th, Wednesday—Morning fair. All well. It turned to rain in the middle of the day. It is cold. we had apple dumplins, beef steaks, & fine potatoes for dinner. The Rebs are quiet since they got defeated in the last battle. The dead was so numerous that they burned them on Monday last on the battle ground.
25th, Thursday—Morning fair but very cold. All quiet. Still on the same ground.
26th, Friday—Morning cold. A frost. Cold evening. We halted on a hill.
27th—The morning fine. Still at same camp near Dam No. 4. All quiet. I had a good swim. Still at camp near Bakersville. Our regiment on picket at the canal.
28th, Sunday—Morning cloudy. All quiet. No news from front. Our regiment came in from picket.
29th, Monday—The morning fine. All quiet. Still at same camp near Bakersville.
30th—I saw a dozen coffins along the road—the friends after dead. Morning fair. Still at Bakersville. Nothing new. I went through Hagerstown. It is a nice little town. It has nice churches. There was 2 trains of cars came in while I was there.
October 1st—The morning fair. All quiet. Nothing new from headquarters. We heard two reports of cannons to the right of us, firing very fast. We do not know what it was.
2nd—Morning cloudy. All quiet. No news from headquarters. Drums beat for a long time & could not tell for what.
3rd—Morning fair. All quiet. Had a great time in putting up 3 field bedsteads in our tent. Our Division reviewed by the President & Little Mac & many citizens from the country around.
4th—The morning fair. All quiet. No news from the front. 15th New Jersey Infantry came in camp in a field near us. Balloon ascension.
[Thaddeus Lowe claimed he received no orders to take his observation balloon and equipment to Sharpsburg until the day after the battle. When he arrived, McClellan expressed regret that he had no been there to provide intelligence during the battle; Lowe used the opportunity to press for an independent command.]
5th, Sunday—All quiet. Morning fair.
6th. Morning fair. The regiment drew new tents. Got orders to move camp about 1 mile nearer Bakersville. Our pickets & Rebel pickets crossed & eat together & fished in the canal. They want peace as soon as it can be made.
7th—Morning fair. All quiet. Gave out new clothing. Had chicken stew & [ ] here for dinner.
8th—Morning fair. Weather hot as a man can bear it. On picket for two days. No news from [headquarters].
9th—Morning fair. All quiet. Under marching orders.
10th—Morning fair. All quiet. Our regiment came in from picket duty.
11th—Raining. All well. Still on the hill.
12th—Cloudy. All well. Blow out on pies.
13th—Cloudy. Nothing new. Expect to move every minute. Still in same place.
14th—Cloudy. All quiet. The report that several hundred Rebel Cavalry was captured.
15th—Morning cloudy. All quiet.
16th—The morning fair. All quiet. The regiment received their boxes. Contents were all ruined. Regiment out on Brigade drill.
17th—Morning fair. All quiet. Heavy firing on the right yesterday but could not ascertain what it was.
18th—The morning fair. All well. Regiment moved two miles from where we were encamped & went on picket duty. The Rebs crossed the river near Hancock [Maryland] with 5,000 men.
19th—Got orders to move & they were countermanded. Got our knapsacks & they were ransacked & nearly all the things that belonged to the men were stolen.
20th—The morning clear. All quiet. The regiment out on picket.
21st—Morning fair. All quiet. Took up our line of march at 9 o’clock. Passed through Donnington and encamped. We traveled 4 miles. Our regiment came in from picket. We laid down for the night. The wind was so strong that it blew our tents away.
22nd—The morning fair. The wind blowing a hurricane & the men half froze. We drew clothing.
23rd—The morning fair and all quiet.
24th—The morning fair. All quiet. We had a nice breakfast of boiled & fried eggs. Dinner, chicken pot pie.
25th—The morning fair. All quiet.
26th—The morning cloudy. Drizzling rain. We had orders to be readiness to march.
27th—The morning very cold. Raining torrents. The same orders today.
28th—The morning clear. Heavy frost.
29th—The morning clear. Orders to move back to Bakersville, the old camp ground.
30th—Clear. Took up the line of march & encamped on same ground that we left. Our fellow mess stole a sheep & we had some for breakfast and a Black man called me a Son of a Bitch & I forgave him.
31st—Clear. Took up the line of march. Passed through Bakersville, Smoketown, Jellysville, Akers Mill, & encamped near Crampton’s Gap, near the old battlefield. We traveled 12 miles.
November 1st [1862], Saturday—Clear. Packed up for line of march. Started at 8 o’clock. We sat on a log & reviewed about 30,000 troops [as they] passed by. It was a beautiful sight. Encamped on a hill near Harpers Ferry.
2nd—Took up the march. Passed through Berlingville, crossed the river over a pontoon bridge into Old Virginia. Passed though Lovettsville. Traveled 12 miles. Encamped for the night.
3rd—The morning clear and cold. Ready for march at 7 o’clock. Passed through Wheatingville, Lovettville. Encamped for night. Traveled 12 miles.
4th—Took up line of march at 7 o’clock and passed through Purcellville. Encamped on a hill near Louden. Traveled 17 miles.
5th—Took up march at 11 o’clock. Passed through Fetersonville & Bloomfield. Traveled 17 miles. Encamped on the road for the night.
6th—Morning cloudy & cool. Ready for march at 8 o’clock. Encamped near the railroad at White Plains.
7th—Morning cloudy. Snowing. Railroad cars pass by us. It snowed all day. It covered the ground.
8th—The morning clear. Ready to move. The regiment went on picket.
9th—Morning clear & cold. Ready for moving at 7 o’clock. Passed White Plain Station. Crossed Broad Run. Encamped near the road for night. Traveled 8 miles this day. Regiment came in from picket.
10th—The morning fair. All quiet. Ready to start. We did not move. Gen. McClellan passed & reviewed the troops. About 150 thousand formed in line along the roadside.
11th November, Tuesday—The weather fair and all quiet and still on the same camp ground.
12th November, Wednesday—Camp near New Baltimore. The morning cloudy and all quiet.
November 13, Thursday—The morning fair and all quiet. We captured two sheep for our dinner.
Friday, Nov. 14th 1862—The morning fair and all quiet. We dragged clothing.
Saturday, Nov. 15th—The morning clear and all quiet.
Sunday, Nov. 16th, 1862—The morning clear. We got ready for the march. We started at 8 o’clock and passed through New Baltimore and Greenwichville and passed Catlin Station, and encamped for the night in a field near the road.
Monday 17th, 1862—The morning wet and orders to move. We moved about 7 o’clock and marched about 5 miles and encamped on a field for the night.
Tuesday, Nov. 18th 1862—The morning cloudy and on the move. We passed Aquia Creek and marched 15 miles and encamped near the road side near Stafford Court House.
Wednesday, Nov. 19th—The morning rainy and all quiet, and a mule kicked on the arm. I had the pleasure to be shut up in Stafford Jail.
Thursday, Nov. 20th 1862—The morning rainy and all quiet.
Friday, Nov. 21st 1862—The morning rainy and all quiet. About four thousand men mending the roads. All the captains of the regiment have left us and gone home.
[Did the Captain’s resign out of protest of Gen. McClellan’s removal as commander of the Army of the Potomac?]
Saturday, 22nd 1862—The morning cloudy and all quiet.
Sunday, 23rd 1862—The morning clear and cool and all quiet. We took a walk around the country in the afternoon and we got some persimmons.
Monday, Nov. 24th 1862—The morning clear and cold and all quiet. A Grand Review by Gen. Brooks of all his Division.
Tuesday, 25th 1862—The morning clear and cold and all quiet and nothing new.
Wednesday 26th 1862—This morning cloudy and all quiet, and no news from Fredericksburg.
Thursday, Nov. 27th—Morning fair and clear. It being Thanksgiving Day, we had bean soup for dinner. We sat on a log and reviewed the troops and artillery of Sickle’s Division pass by us numbering about 15 thousand troops on their way towards Richmond.
Friday, Nov. 28, 1862—The morning fair and all quiet. Our Brigade marched forward about 5 o’clock towards Fredericksburg.
Saturday, Nov. 29—The morning clear. We took up our line of march at 8 o’clock and traveled about 5 miles and encamped on a field surrounded with woods.
Sunday, Nov. 30—The morning clear. We got orders to march back 2 miles and we camped in a field surrounded with woods and sat on a log and see about 60 thousand pass us.
December 1st 1862—The morning rainy and all quiet. Our regiment out on picket. 5 companies returned to camp.
Tuesday, December 2nd—The morning clear and nothing new. 5 companies still on picket and still on the same camp ground and I drew a knit jacket.
Wednesday, Dec. 3rd 1862—The morning cloudy and still in the same camp. 5 companies returned from picket and 5 went out to relieve them.
Thursday, Dec. 4th 1862—The morning clear and cold. We got orders to march. We took up our line of march at 5 o’clock in the morning. We came across Belle Plain and encamped on a field on the road. We traveled about 15 miles.
Friday, Dec. 5th 1862—The morning cloudy and all quiet. It commenced snowing and snowed all night. The 5 companies of our regiment still behind with the wagons.
Saturday, Dec. 6th—The morning clear and cold. There was about 4 inches of snow on the ground and nothing new from Headquarters. Our men being half starved. Our rations did not get in until late in the night.
Sunday, Dec. 7th 1862— The morning clear and cold, the men being half froze. We received our rations in the night. 5 of our companies still behind us. Nothing new from the front.
Monday, Dec. 8th 1862—The morning clear and cold and still in the same camp ground and nothing new from the front. The five companies still behind. The steamboats frozen in the Potomac River. No mail.
Tuesday, Dec. 9th 1862—The morning clear and cold. We got orders to move. [illegible] and can’t get any tobacco.
Wednesday, Dec. 10, 1862—The morning fair and still on the same camp ground. Orders to move.
Thursday, Dec. 11, 1862—The morning fair. We moved at 6 o’clock in the morning and marched about 5 miles and encamped on a field near the road. They commenced cannonading at daylight and continued until night.
Friday, Dec. 12th 1862—The morning was fair. Cannonading commenced early and kept up all night. The troops all crossed over the Rappahannock river.
Saturday, Dec. 13, 1862—The morning was cloudy. Cannonading commenced early in the morning—the hardest I ever heard. Went to the front with rations. Shelling very brisk. Shells passed over the mules & past our faces.
Dec. 14—Morning fair. Heavy cannonading. Heard that the 15th New Jersey ran away yesterday at the time our regiment was being relieved from the front. The Rebels charged upon a battery [but] the Jersey Brigade [commanded by Col. Torbert] repulsed them. Col. [William B.] Hatch of the 4th New Jersey has his leg shot off. Last night about 10 o’clock Gen. [Franz] Sigel and Gen. [Henry W.] Slocum crossed the river with their troops. There was very little going on yesterday.
Monday, Dec. 15th 1862—The morning fair. Firing commenced about 7 o’clock. It did not last long. Our regiment was on picket. Took rations down to them in the morning but could not give them out until late at night. I saw one regiment drilling on the battlefield.
“After our troops crossed, the rebels came out, jumped and cheered like wild men.”
—Pvt. Samuel Clayton, 95th Pennsylvania
Tuesday, Dec. 16th 1862—The morning wet. Firing commenced early but not very heavy. All troops are across the river. After our troops crossed, the rebels came out, jumped and cheered like wild men. They came out in line of battle. Our batteries shelled them a little and drove them back again.
Wednesday 17th 1862—The morning fair. It rained about 5 o’clock in the morning. We took 2 days rations out to the regiment which lays on this side of the river encamped in a woods. Our old adjutant that was taken prisoner at Savage Station returned to the regiment. We still lay on the same camp ground and all quiet. Colonel Campbell of the 55th Penn. Vols. was wounded in the hip and his horse in his head. We have four generals wounded. Jackson Baired. The Rebs tried to plant a battery in the woods but our artillery drove them from it. They say that we lost 15,000 killed, wounded, and missing in the last battle.
“The Rebs say that we have two Hills, one Stonewall, and a Longstreet to pass before we get in Richmond.”
— Pvt. Samuel Clayton, 95th Pennsylvania
Thursday 18th—Morning clear and cold and all quiet. On the same camp ground. The Rebs say that we have two Hills, one Stonewall, and a Longstreet to pass before we get in Richmond.
Friday, Dec. 19th—The morning clear. Orders to move. We packed up at 9 o’clock. The army on a retreat from Fredericksburg. The Rebs cross the river to trade tobacco for sugar and coffee with our troops.
Saturday, 20th 1862—The morning clear and very cold and encamped near the White Oak Hospital and I sent home the Relief Card. All quiet near White Oak Church.
Sunday, 21st 1862—The morning fair and cold. Still on the same camp and all quiet. There was two men belonging to one of the New Jersey Regiments frozen to death in the hospital for want of blankets.
Monday, 22nd 1862—The morning fair and still on the same camp and all quiet and near White Oak Church.
Tuesday, 23rd 1862—The morning clear and warm. Moved our camp about a quarter of a mile and all quiet at Frederick[sburg].
Wednesday 24th 1862—The morning clear and still in the [same] camp and all quiet.
Thursday, Christmas 25th—The morning very warm and all quiet. The regiment drew clothing on 24th and a stew for dinner.
Friday 26th 1862—The morning cloudy and still. On the same camp ground and all quiet near White Oak Church.
Saturday, Dec. 27th 1862—The morning cloudy and still on the same camp ground and all quiet.
Sunday, Dec. 28th 1862—The morning clear and on the same camp ground. We went about 3 miles for rails for firewood. There was heavy firing on our right. We do not know what it was.
Monday, Dec. 29th—The morning clear and still. On the same camp and all quiet.
Tuesday, Dec. 30th—The morning cloudy and some rain and all quiet and in the same camp. Orders to move with three days rations cooked. It was countermanded. The regiment received their new uniform.
Monday, 31st 1862—The last day of this year. The morning cloudy and cool. The regiment getting mustered in. They looked splendid with their new uniforms.
1863 Diary Entries
Thursday, January 1, 1863—The morning clear and cool. The sun rose splendid and we arose in good health and had for breakfast fried beefsteaks, cold pork, baked beans, rice, and molasses and a quart of coffee and we all thanked God to see the New Year. Roll in our extra pay was stopped this day by orders of Gen. Russell.
Friday, January 2nd 1863—The morning clear and warm and on the camp near Fredericksburg. We had an accident to happen [to] 1 or 2 officers in the 31st Regiment. A [wall?] fell on them crushing them very bad while at dinner. Our new Gen. Russell inspected the Quartermaster’s Department in the morning and found all correct.
Saturday, Jan. 4th 1863—The morning clear and warm. Our regiment went out on fatigue duty for three days.
Monday, 5th Jan. 1863—The morning clear and warm.
Tuesday, January 6th 1863—The morning cloudy and the day wet. George Young came to see me and have dinner with us.
Wednesday, 7th Jan. 1863—The morning clear and all quiet and still on the same camp ground. The regiment came in camp.
Thursday 8th—The morning fair and on the same ground and all quiet.
Friday, Jan. 9th 1863—The morning clear and all quiet on the same camp.
Saturday 10th 1863—The morning rainy and all quiet on the same camp.
Sunday, 11th 1863—The morning fair and the little birds singing about our tent until afternoon when it clouded over.
Monday, 12th 1863—The morning clear and all quiet. The little birds singing about.
Tuesday 13th 1863—[illegible—pencil smudged]
Wednesday 14th 1863—[illegible—pencil smudged]
Thursday 15th 1863—The morning clear and all quiet. The wind blowing very fresh and nothing new.
Friday 16th 1863—The morning clear and all quiet. We had orders to move and the men to have 3 days rations.
[Last page totally unreadable.]
The opening page of Samuel Clayton’s Second Diary
Second Diary Begins in November 1863
Saturday morning, August 22, 1863—Morning clear and warm and last night we had a thunderstorm with lightning and rain and all is well in camp and our regiment was out on drill today.
Sunday morning, August 23, 1863—The morning clear and warm and all is well in camp today and this morning our Brigade was inspected by General [ ] and in the afternoon they had Dress Parade and nothing new from the front lines today.
Monday morning, August 24th, 1863—The morning clear and warm and all is well in camp today. And all is still along the line and we have a Dress Parade in a day.
Tuesday, August 25—Morning cloudy and pleasant and all is well in camp today. Guard mount at 8 o’clock and Dress Parade at 5 o’clock in the afternoon and all is still along the line and we are still at New Baltimore encamped.
Wednesday morning, August 26—The morning cloudy and cool and it did rain all night and all is well in camp today and all is still along the line. And we are still encamped at New Baltimore as yet.
Thursday morning, August 27—The morning clear and warm and all is well in camp today and nothing new from the front and is quiet along the line. Guard Mount at 8 and Dress Parade at 5.
Friday, August 28th—Morning clear and warm and all is well in camp and all is still along the line and no news from the front. Dress Parade.
Saturday, August 29—Clear and rainy and all is well in camp at this time and nothing new from the front line today. And in the afternoon it cleared off warm and they had Dress Parade.
Sunday morning, August 30th—The morning clear and warm and all is well in camp today and nothing new. And all is still and our regiment went out on picket for 3 days out on the [ ] post.
Monday morning, August 31—The morning is clear and warm and our regiment is still on picket duty and all is well in camp and al still along the line at present. And all the men is getting [muster?] in.
September 1st 1863—Tuesday morning clear and warm and all is well in camp today and the regiment is still out on picket and all is still along the lines at present.
Wednesday morning, September 2—Cloudy and looks like rain and all is well in camp today. Our regiment came in from pocket duty this morning at 10 o’clock and all is still along the line and we are still at New Baltimore.
Thursday morning, September 3—Morning clear and windy. All is well in camp. Today we had our Brigade inspected by General Bartlet and all is still along the lines.
Friday morning, September 4—Cloudy and cool. All well in camp today. We had a Battalion Parade today. Nothing new. All is still along the line and we are still in camp at New Britain.
Saturday morning, Sept. 5th—Morning clear and warm. All is well in camp today. We had drill. Last night the guerrillas made a dash at us at I o’clock at night.
Sunday morning, September 6th—This morning clear and war. All is well in camp today. Dress Parade at 5 o’clock in the afternoon. All is still along the line and no news from the front.
Friday, September 11—The morning cloudy and damp. Our regiment still out on picket duty. All is well in camp at this time. All is still along the line.
Saturday 12th—The morning cloudy. The regiment came in from picket today. All is well in the camp today. Nothing new from the front. All is still along the line.
Sunday September 13th—The morning cloudy and raining and warm. All is well in camp at this time. Nothing new from the front. All is still along the line.
Monday, September 14—The morning is cloudy and raining. Nothing new from the front line and all is well in camp at this time. We are still in camp at the same place at New Baltimore.
Tuesday, September 15—the morning cloudy and damp. All well in camp today. Nothing new from the front. All is still along the line and still at New Baltimore.
Thursday, September 16—The morning is cloudy. Orders to march. Left New Baltimore at 5 o’clock and in camp for the night at 4 o’clock. Pass through the town at daylight.
Thursday, September 17—The morning is cloudy. Took up march at 4 o’clock. Pass through the Sulphur Springs and another place called Jeffersonville and a place called Mud Run and in camp for the night.
Friday, September 18—Cloudy and rainy. Still on the march. 10 miles and then came to Hazel River. We had to swim across it to a village they call Algerar. Camp for the night on the roadside.
September 23, Wednesday—Clear and warm. All is well in camp today. All is still along the front line today. The regiment out on drill and Dress Parade.
Thursday, Sept. 24—The morning clear and cold. All is well in camp today. Two companies go on picket at a time. A Battalion Drill and Dress Parade in the afternoon. All is still and nothing new from the front. All is still along the line.
Friday, 25th—The morning cloudy and looks like rain. We had orders to pack up [and be] ready to march. We got ready and waited till dark to move but the orders was countermanded till daylight the next morning so we all did tumble down on the ground to sleep till daylight. Then we got up and made some hot coffee for ourselves and then we was all right again. All is well in camp today.
Saturday, September 26th—Clear and cold and windy. All is well in camp and the regiment out on picket and still we are waiting for orders to march. All things are packed up ready to move ahead.
Sunday, Sept. 27th—Morning clear and warm. All is well in camp today. We still are at the same place near Culpeper Court House. Today the cavalry captured 6 guerrillas at the Poor House.
Monday, Sept. 28th—The morning clear and warm and all is well in camp today. We are at the same place near Culpeper. All is still and nothing new from the front.
Tuesday, Sept. 22nd—Clear and warm. All well in camp today. All is still along the line. Nothing new from the front. Guard Mount at 8 o’clock and a Dress Parade in the afternoon at 5 o’clock.
Wednesday, Sept. 30th—The morning clear and warm. All is well in camp today. A Battalion Drill and Dress Inspection this afternoon. All is still along the line.
Thursday, October 1—Morning cloudy and damp. A big fog. All is well in camp today. All is still and nothing new from the front line. We are at the same camp ground at Culpeper on the high hill.
October 2, Thursday—Morning cloudy and raining. All is well in camp today. All is still along the line. Nothing new. We are still at the same [camp].
Saturday, October 3—Morning clear and war. All is well in camp today. All is still along the line. Today we had a Review. Nothing new. We are at the same place at Culpeper Court House.
Sunday, October 4th—The morning hazy with a long frost on the ground. All is well in camp today. This morning an inspection of knapsacks. All is still along the line. Nothing new.
Monday, October 5th—The morning clear and warm. Pack up and ready to march at 7 o’clock to Burly [?] Station 10 miles ahead and all hands was glad of it for the camp was getting bad and the ground was muddy. Passed through Culpeper at 9 o’clock and a dismal place it was for all the houses was torn to pieces and nobody lives in the place but two old Colored woman and her husband and one child. We went to relieve the 2nd Corps at the Rapper Dam [Rapidan], right in sight of the Rebel’s camp across the river and we marched 12 miles and encamped for the night along the side of a woods close to the riverside, but not until night. [Went] all day without eating anything.
Tuesday, October 6th—The weather looks heavy and like rain. We did arise at the point we started for and that is called Rapidan. It is quite a long river and in going there, we had to march the troops along the edge of the woods to keep the Rebels foreseeing us for they was up on a high mountain and we was down in the valley. The name of that mountain is Slaughter Mountain for the great Battle of Culpeper was fought [here] and a heavy loss on both sides. But we did take the hill from them and a number of prisoners. Today we had to throw out pickets for ten miles around the whole Division and had to relieve them at night so as not to be seen by the rebels. We had to move 4 miles in advance to keep out of sight of the Rebels for they did heave some shells in to our camp. But we did not flinch a bit but stood it all till 1 o’clock at night [when] we opened fire on them and then fell back to Culpeper, passing it without stopping there with a loss of 37 men and their horses so the Yankees did get the best of them at least.
Wednesday, October 7th—The morning cloudy. Moved camp 2 miles ahead. All is still and quiet along the line.
Thursday, October 8th—The morning cloudy and wet in camp. All is well. Some of our boys have [re-]enlisted for three years more. Nothing [happening]. All is still.
Friday, October9th—The morning clear and all is well n camp today. All is still along the River Rapidan and our men is on picket duty along the river. Our camp is in the woods close by them.
Saturday, October 10th—The morning cloudy and warm. We had marching orders at 8 o’clock to pack up and to strike our tents and to be ready to cross the river at Rapidan. Last night we did draw clothing for the regiment such as caps, pants, overcoats, shirts and blankets, stocking, shoes and so forth and give them to the men that was in camp and sent the rest to the men that was out on picket. Last night at 8 o’clock we had orders to pack up and be ready to march and we did march all night till we got to Culpeper and it was daylight then and the roads was mud up to our knees.
Sunday October 11th—We passed through Culpeper and we marched all day and all night and did not eat a mouthful till after night. [We] marched 24 miles and camped for the night.
Monday, October 12th—The morning clear and warm. We took up line of march at 12 o’clock at night and marched to Warrenton Junction and halted in a field for the day and got something to eat and then all hands laid down on the ground and took a good sleep [for] about five hours. Fed our horses and mules and got our supper for us. Did not eat but two meals from Saturday night until Monday afternoon. We had plenty with us but no time to cook it for we found some hard roads to march along and mud up to our knees. For my part, I did not see very well. In crossing a stream of water before daylight—it was so dark—my foot slipped and in I went and I had a good dunking. In the morning it was cold and I felt it until the sun rose and I got dry again for I had not got my knapsack to get some dry clothes on.
Tuesday, October 13th—The morning clear and warm and all hands was closed up at 12 o’clock ready to march in ten minutes. Some had to run with their shoes in their hands because they was shoes in [ ] out. We marched about 10 miles and passed Warrenton Junction about daybreak. We blowed up what we could not transport such as powder and ball and shells. Enparked at about one mile outside of Warrenton Station. Feed and water the horses and got ourselves some breakfast. Three o’clock P. M. went to the regiment four miles back to give the boys in the regiment some rations such as hard bread, coffee, sugar, and salt tongues and fresh beef. Back to the park and got orders to move at 6 o’clock in the evening and marched all night and a crossing Cedar Run, Broad Run, and arriving at 7 o’clock in the morning at about two miles within Bristoe Station.
The wagons of the Army of the Potomac scrambling to get across Cedar Run before Confederates at Warrenton can attack (October 1863)
Wednesday, October 14th—Got orders to stop the wagons or train to feed and take breakfast and then to get ready to move to some other station. There was heavy cannon heard [Battle of Bristoe Station] about the time we turned in the park this morning. Before we started in the afternoon, there was about thirty Rebel prisoners brought in to the Corp’s Headquarters. We marched on Wednesday night about 12 miles.
Thursday, October 15th—We started on the above morning with clear weather. We marched this day 12 miles. Crossed over Bull Run Creek, passed through Brentsville, and arrived at Fairfax in the afternoon at 5 o’clock, and it commenced to rain about half past 5 o’clock.
Friday, October 16th—Rainy all day and night and we all got wet and it did thunder very heavy and blowed a gale at night.
Saturday, October 17th—This morning clear and warm At 8 o’clock we had orders to move our park to a hill above the town at Fairfax Court House and had to go 7 miles back to the regiment with rations for the troops and heavy cannonading was close to us. Some of the train was taken from us by the guerrillas along the road but they did not take nothing but the mules and the drivers and they left the wagons standing.
Sunday October 18th—The morning clear and warm. We are still at Fairfax. All is well with us today. Nothing new and all is still and quiet along the line. At 12 o’clock, our camp is all still. All hands had a good rest. Sunday afternoon about 4 o’clock we had our orders to hitch up the teams ready to make a circle with them and all the men and all the mules to be inside for we did expect a raid at night for the Rebels is only two miles of us with a strong force. All the teamsters had orders to load their guns at night to be ready if they should come on us so all hands was ready.
Monday October 19th—Rainy and cold. Orders to pack up ready to march at 8 o’clock and all hands ready but we did not move till 12 o’clock. At 3 o’clock we got to Centreville and I sat down in the fort and wrote this down while we got. bite of hard tack and salt pork and coffee. Then we had orders to move on to Manassas Junction and we did cross Bull Run at 10 o’clock and halted for the night on the old battlefield and marched 15 miles.
Tuesday, October 20th—Clear and warm. At 7 o’clock, orders to pack up reach to march soon we we can. We left at 8 o’clock to go to Manassas Junction. At 11 o’clock, when we got to Bull Run, the bridge was out of order and we had to wait a long time before it was ready for us to cross it for some of the trestle work was giving way and it was not safe to cross it with the teams. Heavy cannonading was close by us and we had to wait from 11 o’clock until 3 o’clock. It was a great sight to look around and see the fort and the breastworks at Bull’s Run and all the way through to the junction. This is the site of the battlefield that is the first battle ground where there is hundreds of graves all over the ground at that place. At 5 o’clock in the afternoon we arrived at Zanesville Station and parked for the night after traveling 14 miles.
The ruins of the railroad bridge at Bull Run in the foreground; a temporary troop and wagon bridge seen in the background.
Wednesday, October 21st—Morning dry and warm. 8 o’clock all hands had orders to pack up ready to march and we left Zanesville at 9 o’clock to march to a place called Buckley Village and the next place was New Baltimore at 2 o’clock. We went on to Warrenton and encamped for the night.
Thursday, October 22nd—The morning clear and cold. We are in camp at Warrenton and all is well in the camp after such a long march. All is still along the line today. No news from the front. We did give out rations to the troops.
Friday, October 23rd—The morning is cloudy and looks like rain. We are at Warrenton yet in camp until the bridge is rebuilt over the Rappahannock. All is well in camp. All still along the line.
Saturday, October 24th—The morning stormy and cold and raining. All hands is almost froze to death. All is well in camp. All is still along the line. Nothing new from the front lines.
Sunday, October 25th—The morning clear and cold. Orders to pack up ready to march at a minute’s notice. All hands was ready but the orders was countermanded at present but to hold ourselves in readiness any any time. Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock we struck tents ready o march and left Warrenton at 4 o’clock. We marched 1 mile and encamped for the night and pitched our tents again on a hill by the roadside.
Monday, October 26th—The morning clear and cold. We are encamped about two miles outside of the town on a high hill and all hands is well in camp. All is well along the lines.
Tuesday, October 27th—The morning clear and cold. Last night the guerrillas made a raid on our wagon train between New Baltimore and Warrenton and captured 10 wagons and they took the mules and left the wagons stand in the road and took 60 mules.
Wednesday, October 28th—The morning clear and cold. All is well in camp today. We are still on the hill encamped. All is still along the line. Nothing new from the front today.
Thursday, October 29th— Morning clear and warm. We had orders to move our camp to another place in the woods so as to keep the cold weather off us. All is well. All is still along the line.
Friday, October 30th—The morning cloudy and looks like rain. We are busy putting up our tents on our new camp ground in the woods. We are clearing away the old brush out of the way of the tents.
Saturday, October 31st—The morning rainy and our new camp ground is wet and muddy but we are trying to get it clean as fast as we can. All is well in camp at this time.
Sunday, November 1st [1863]—Clear and warm. We had a hard day’s work to do—that is, fixing our tents and building our fireplaces. So this is the way that we did pass the Sunday—at hard work.
Monday, November 2nd—Clear and warm. All is well in camp. All is still along the line and nothing new. Then we do hear a report of a cannon of the front of us or in the rear of us.
Tuesday, November 3rd—The morning clear and warm Nothing is new with us for al hands is hard to work putting up log tents. All is well in camp and all along the line.
Wednesday, November 4th—The morning clear and fine. All is well in camp today. There is some talk about moving away after all hands had their tents logged up so nice and we had to work so hard to build them and carry the logs so far (1 mile).
Thursday, November 5th—Clear and warm. Windy. All is well in camp. We are at the same place yet and part of the regiment out on picket duty and the rest on fatigue duty on the road.
Friday, November 6th—Morning clear and fine. All is well along the line. Nothing new. Our regiment out on picket and we are still in the same camp ground at Warrenton.
Saturday, November 7th—Clear and warm. At 8 o’clock we had orders to pack up read to march at 4 o’clock. It was a busy time with us for we did not know what was the matter so early in the morning and between 1 and 3 o’clock the guerrillas made a raid on the wagon train. While all had went to sleep and ordered them to get up and unhitch the teams and not a word to say. If they did say a word, that they would blow their brains out. And while the guerrillas was inside, one of them was walking the post and when he handed the guard, the Rebel cried out, “Halt!” and our sentinel saw that the countersign was not correct and then the reply was, “You Yankee Son of a Bitch, if you say a word, I will blow your brains out.” But they did take in all 36 mules and 12 drivers. Our men got back 28 of them and one was wounded in the shoulder and one killed dead on the spot. Sundown and we did stop in a field to feed our mules and get something to eat ourselves, And while we was there, the ball did open and I think that it was the loudest cannon firing that I ever did hear in my lifetime [2nd Battle of Rappahannock Station]. Orders to hitch up ready to go ahead or be ready to go back but we did go ahead and no going back and got to B_____ Station at 8 o’clock at night and halted for the night after marching 15 miles.
Sunday, November 8th—Morning clear and fine. While we was a breakfast, the cavalry brought along 19 hundred Rebel prisoners and 4 Colonels and about 20 Captains and they was taken on Saturday night at the battle at Rappahannock Station on Sunday morning and all of then was dress[ed] well and lost heavily. This morning we are at Betlet [?] Station and I don’t know how long we will stay at this place. Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock we left Betlet [?] Station for the Rappahannock Station about 4 miles. We went up to the forts to see it and when we got there we saw a great many fresh graves at that place of our men who fell at the taking of the fort. Some 65 of them lie all in a row. We halted on the battlefield for the night.
Monday, November 9th—The morning cloudy and cold. At daybreak it was a splendid sight to stand on the forts and look around and see the entrenchment that the Rebels had thrown up at that place. 9 o’clock, order [came] to pack up and to stand fast till we get orders to march at 12 o’clock and went 1 mile and turned back to the camp on the battlefield for the night.
Tuesday, November 10th—Morning clear and cold. Crossed the Rappahannock River. Left the park at half past six. Viewed the battlefield at the Rappahannock and took a walk around the fortification. Saw a great many of our troops buried behind the fort. We are still on the move and marched 10 miles and halted on a hillside and no wood and water within a mile of us so we didn’t stay all on the hillside all night. Almost froze to death.
Wednesday, November 11th—The morning clear and cold. We had to move our camp to another place a mile off in the woods in a warmer place. We are all the time at work. All is well in camp today.
Thursday, November 12th—The morning clear and cold. We are encamped near the Hazel River in a pine woods on the side of a hill. All is well in camp. All is still in the front.
Friday, November 13th—The morning clear and cold. All hands is busy in building their tents. Some is cleaning bricks and some is mixing up mud for to mortar and others is cutting logs and so all hands are busy. And just as we get them finished, we get marching orders and we have to leave them. But we do tear them down so the Johnnies can’t have them to live in after we are gone away for this is the 4th time we built them.
Saturday, November 14th—The morning clear and warm. I sent home 25 dollars. All is still along the line. All is well in camp. Nothing new. Still on the hill and still busy in logging up our tents.
Sunday, November 15th—Stormy with rain and heavy thunder and lightning with it and the camp wet and muddy. All is still and all is well in camp. Nothing new from the front lines. While we was at our breakfast, the Rebels undertook to cross at Kelly’s Ford and our batteries opened here on them and drove them back. It think it was about the loudest cannonading that I have heard since I have been out for they was quick as lightning and all hands was ready to march and it was raining hard and fast but we did not mind it at such a time as that. [We] was wet to the skin and up to our knees in mud but ready to advance at any time we was called upon. But the firing did not last long. At 3 o’clock it was all still. It was at Brandy Station and it was reported that they had taken a whole brigade of the Rebels at a place called Welford’s Ford. All still up to 12 o’clock last night. All is well in camp today and the boys say that they are ready for another fight at any time.
Pontoon Bridge at Welford’s Ford on the Hazel River. Tom Stubblefield’s Mill and tenant house are seen in the background.
Monday, November 16th—Cloudy and looks like rain and today we have a general inspection by General Bartlet and his staff and all hands glad to clean themselves up and the inspectors say that the 95th [Pennsylvania] looks the cleanest and the best in the Corps and it did make the boys glad to think that they was the cleanest in the Corps. And he said to the 95th P. V. of Pennsylvania boys did never fail in any battle as yet.
Tuesday, November 17th—The morning cloudy and looks like a heavy storm and we have plenty of rain at this season of the year. Sometimes it does rain a whole week at a time and it does make it bad for us for the ground it trod up so much that it makes it muddy. Wet or dry, it makes no difference to us, for the men has to turn out to roll call and guard mount and every day we have to draw rations for the regiment.
Wednesday, November 18th—This morning cloudy and warm. I had a drink of whiskey offered to me which I refused and all hands laughed at me but I told them that I did not want it—that I was the best judge of it for when I thought that a drink would do me any good, I would take it, but not without I stood in need of it—that all the men in the whole Army of the Potomac could not make me take it if I was so opposed to take a drink if I did not think proper. But I told them when I felt like taking a drink with them, I would do so. But if I say no, I mean it. And if I say yes, I mean it. But the boys say that the ‘old man Clayton’ means what he says and he is the man that I think that what he says, he does mean, and I think that he is right in so doing.
All is well in camp today but we are on the move at this time but I can’t tell where. We had made our winter quarters up but we don’t think that we shall have any this winter. But I am cutting wood today for the Quartermaster some two or three miles away from the camp so I got hungry and I bought a can of oysters and it had 50 in it and it cost me 1 dollar for it so I thought that I did pay for it. Well, it is only the second that I have bought since I have been out. All is well in camp and all is still along the line today.
Thursday, November 19th—Cloudy and looks like storming and we are still at Welford’s Ford and we have been there about 10 days and still a fixing up our tents to keep us from the storms and the rains and the cold winds from us. All is well in camp. All is still up till sundown today. We had a Battalion Drill at 2 o’clock until 5 in the afternoon and the rest of the day we are busy in building our chimneys.
Friday, November 20th—The morning clear and fine. At 8 o’clock the whole 6th Corps had to turn out at 3 o’clock in the morning so as to be ready to clean theirselves up to go on therevieww by our generals and some English officers and others at 10 o’clock for they had to go about 5 miles to the [parade] ground and after they got on the ground, they had to stand three hours a waiting for them to arrive on the ground. And they then took up the line of march and marched all over the parade ground two or three times before they their red eye to drink and keep us from our hard tack and our salt pork. But when they got into camp, we had fresh bread and all hands gave 3 cheers for it has been about 2 months since we had any of it and if we bought a case, it cost 25 cents. 1 loaf a day for a man and some of them eat it all at 1 meal and others made it do 3 meals. But I don’t eat 1 loaf in a day.
Saturday, November 21st—The morning is cloudy and raining and everything is wet in camp and we had to give out clothing to the regiment—caps and jackets, pants, and shirts, and drawers, stockings, and shoes, and so forth. And I am busy in knocking up boxes to get the nails for sometimes we can’t get a nail to when I get a chance, I save all I can so when we get into winter quarters, I will have enough to build my quarters without hunting for them if we do stop at all.
Sunday, November 22nd—Morning clear and fine. All is well in camp. Today we was inspected by our own officers to see if their accoutrements were in good order and that every man had 60 rounds of cartridges in their boxes. Today we did draw new guns and cartridge boxes and belts and cartridge box plates and straps. So it don’t look like making winter quarters as yet but I think that it does look like another hard fight before we do winter quarters for the whole regiment is getting a new fit out with everything and every man to have 8 days rations in his haversack and 60 rounds of cartridges in his box and 40 rounds in his knapsack and that will make 1 hundred rounds of cartridges to carry besides their 8 days rations and their blankets and their guns and in all it will make about 80 to 90 pounds to each man to carry. 4 o’clock Battalion Drill and we have to go about 2 miles to the parade ground.
Monday, November 23rd—The Morning is clear and warm and we are still at Welford’s Ford and we just got orders to hold ourselves in readiness to march a minutes notice. 12 o’clock. no line of marching as yet. All is ready. 4 o’clock. No more at sundown. We made up our minds to stay all night and so did stay all night at the old ground but did not sleep none for the boys had a blow on some whistle.
Tuesday, Nov. 24th—The morning cloudy and looks like a rainy day. Last night at 8 o’clock we all got orders to be ready to march at 12 o’clock at night and all hands did not go to bed but I have always made it a rule to go to my bed at tattoo when I am in camp so I did get a good night’s rest for we did not move till 9 o’clock in the morning. So I had the laugh on them but I had all my things packed up—all but my blanket—so I was ready at a call. At 9 o’clock the line was formed and we did leave the old camp ground at Welford’s Ford and before I left the camp, I did buy myself some tobacco—1 dollar’s worth—and 1 dollar’s worth of segars and 4 pounds of bologna sausage and one can of milk 75 cents and 1 can of peaches 75 cents and 1 can of oysters 65 cents, and 1 pound of cheese 50 cent for I did not know how long we would be on the move so I thought I would look out for myself on the move for I have been fooled before on the march so I took care to look out this time for myself. So I did lay [up] a good supply in my haversack so as I could have a bite on the road without running to the wagons on the march.
So we did have to stand in line and it did rain so fast that we did get ringing wet and after all the order was countermanded and all hands went to putting up their tents on the wet ground again. Mud up to our knees and a bad night it was for us.
Wednesday, November 25th—The morning was clear at daylight and the sun did rise in splendor but in 10 minutes after that a cloud arose in the east and it made it dark—but no rain with it—and we all thought it would blow our tents away at that time—but no wind with it. So we are still at Welford’s Ford and looking every minute to get orders to march for we have not unloaded the wagons as yet. [ ] weather overhead and wet under foot. 12 o’clock no more.
Thursday, Nov. 26th—The morning is clear and cold and at 3 o’clock we got the orders to pack up and be ready to get in line at 6 o’clock. We left Welford’s Ford at 7 o’clock and marched up to the division headquarters and halted there till all of the artillery passed by us—22 batteries. We left the old camp at 7 o’clock and arrived at Brandy Station at 11 o’clock and the cars was a loading some of the troops. We made a halt at the station to feed and water the mules and to get a bite. Our [ ] and of hard tack and salt pork and while we laid at the station 11 locomotives left the station with the sick and wounded and the rest had rations which they run back to Alexandria so that the Rebels could not get them after we left the station. Our men set the station on fire and burnt it down to the ground and our cavalry had to go out on a scout for it was reported that Mosby with five hundred men was in our rear following us and was waiting till dark so he could make a raid on the wagon train for the wagons was stuck in the mud. And so they was, and we had to unload them after dark in the mud up to our knees. Last night we had to stay in a field at night without fire or blankets watching for the guerrillas to make a raid on our wagon train and they did make it, sure enough, but not until after 12 o’clock.
Friday, November 27th—The morning clear and cold at daylight. The guards give the alarm and at the same time they had set on fire 14 wagons and burnt them up and took 150 mules and about 50 of the guards and 25 head of cattle and 1 corporal—Isaac Blifford of the 5th Maine Regiment—was shot dead for giving the signal to the guards and some got away from them. We passed by Mosby’s property and it was in flames and a splendid [sight]. But they did not get the cattle at last for our cavalry made them fly in all directions across the Rappahannock river. But they did strip all the clothes off the men and put their clothing on them and all of their money too, and sent them to Richmond.
Today the ball was opened at Germania Ford about 8 o’clock in the morning and lasted till after dark. [See Mine Run Campaign] We all think it was the loudest that we ever heard since we have been out and a constant roaring of musketry. But we did not hear the last on either side. Marched 12 miles and halted on the side of a hill for the night.
Saturday, Nov. 28th—The morning cloudy and raining. Orders to hitch up at daylight. All ready to go but did not move so we did stay all night on the hill for the train was afraid to make a start for the cannonading was so heavy a head of us. All is well with us in the train tonight up to 12 o’clock.
Sunday, November 29th—The morning cloudy and cold. Looks like a heavy fall of snow but it cleared off in the afternoon. Last night at 11 o’clock, Mosby tried to make another raid on the wagon train but before he got in the train, he smelled a rat and left in a hurry with the loss of horses and men for our boys was on the look out for them. Today, Sunday, heavy firing at Salem Church and it is reported that we do drive them from every place.
Monday, November 30th—The morning clear and cold. We took two of the wagons and went back three miles after some wood to make a fire to keep ourselves warm this morning at 10 o’clock. The guerrillas made another raid on our train but they did not get a thing for we did lay back for them and they did take 11 of them and the rest left in a hurry. This is the fourth raid that they have made in 4 nights but got nothing at all for all they got [from] us, [we] got back again.
Battle of Mine Run, Late November 1863
Tuesday, December 1, 1863—The morning clear and cold. At 7 o’clock orders came to pack up as soon as we could for we had to fall back and we left Ely’s Ford and marched a mile and halted in a field until the pontoon bridge was laid across the Rapidan River. While we did stop, we got some coffee and hard tack and sow pork so as to be ready to take up our line of march at any time they called on us. But we did not cross the river last night owing that the pontoon bridge was not ready for us to cross on so we stated all night in a pine woods and we made up a big fire and spread our things such as blankets down on the ground to sleep and we all slept badly.
About dark, two men on horseback came along the wagon train looking for one of the wagon masters and we had none of that name. One had a mail bag with him but it was empty so we did arrest them both and took them up to Gen. Meade’s headquarters and they both was Rebel spies and we put them under guard till morning.
December 2nd, Wednesday—Morning clear and cold. We are still in the pine woods awaiting for the bridges to be laid as as we can cross them. 8 o’clock and no orders to hitch up the teams. All is well with us. It is all still and no guns to be heard up to 9 o’clock. At 10 o’clock the orders was given for all hands to hitch up as soon as they can, ready to move, and the teams was ready in 10 minutes time. After all the hurry, they did not move out till 5 o’clock in the afternoon. 12 o’clock cannonading commenced. Left the Rappahannock River at sundown. We marched to Richardsville and halted for the night. It was a nice place and in one of the cellars we found 2 dead bodies in them with their throats cut and we burned them and burnt the whole place down. Marched 12 miles.
Thursday, December 3rd—The morning clear and warm. 4 o’clock orders to move at sunrise. All ready. Took up line of march at 7 o’clock at Richardsville. Traveled till we got back to Brandy Station. Halted about two hours at the station and then started for Welford’s Ford—that is the camp we left. Got back at 5 in the evening and pitched tents again. We expected a good night’s sleep after we had laid out two nights without sleeping [but] just as went to bed, at 12 o’clock, we got orders to draw 8 days rations and fresh beef, pork, sugar, coffee, potatoes, dried apples, hard tack, soap and candles and so forth.
Friday, December 4th—The morning clear and warm. We arrived at our old camp ground again but we was told that we should not stay here but tonight. But I did not tear down my fireplace when we left so it did stand till we came back again so I had plenty of the men in my tent at night for all of them did tear down all of their chimneys. But I let men stay till the last one and I went to mine to knock it down but I thought that we might come back again and so we did return again back to it and I had nothing to do but put my tent over the same place. So I did enjoy the night with 6 in my tent. But I told them that I would not allow them to play cards and they asked me why and I told them that I had something else to think about and they asked me if I would not have a single game with them and I said not a bit of it. So some of them stayed in my tent all night, 6 in number, and I myself made 7 in all. And so we spent the night. All is well in this place and all is still in the rear.
Saturday, December 5th—The morning is cloudy and cold. At 8 o’clock we had orders to move camp across the Hazel River and at 9 o’clock we did strike our tents and pack up our things ready to march. But they did keep us in line all of the afternoon till 2 o’clock in the afternoon, and then the orders was countermanded so we pitched our tents again on the same ground and stopped for the night. Slept good.
Sunday, December 6th—The morning clear and cold. All is waiting and looking for orders to pack up. Ready to cross the Rapidan again, to be ready for another heavy battle to be fought at Orange Court House for they say that they have a heavy force there. But we are going to give them a dash so as to try that front. All of our men is in good spirits and ready for it. All is well in camp today.
Monday, December 7th—The morning clear and fine. We still lie at the same camp ground near to Brandy Station but don’t think that we will be long at that place. But it don’t look like staying for we have to go about 4 miles after wood with the wagons for the camp. All is well in camp today. All is still and quiet along the river at this time and nothing to be heard nor seen up to 12 o’clock at night.
Tuesday, December 8th—The morning clear and warm. This morning we went out two miles after bricks to build chimneys and when we got back to camp we had orders to pack up ready to march so we had all the trouble for nothing. So all was ready but did not march till 3 o’clock and at the same house we got our brick from, two men was killed by the walls falling on them and we got them out and buried them under some trees in the yard and put up a head board.
Wednesday, December 9th—The morning is clear and pleasant. This day we crossed over Hazel River on a pontoon bridge to go to our new camp ground—and a nice one it is for it is in a large woods and the water is handy to us. Today they gave to the regiment clothing. All is well in camp and all is still along the line. We are about 3 miles from Brandy Station and we think we will stay at this place this winter.
Thursday, December 10th—The morning is clear and warm and fine. All is busy in cutting logs to build their tents to keep off the storm. All is well with us today. Dress Parade at 8 o’clock in the morning and at two o’clock in the afternoon a Battalion Drill. This is the way we pass the day away. We are on a high hill and we can see a long way off. All is still along the line. Nothing new from the front and still with us.
Friday, December 11th—The morning cloudy and cold with hail. All is well in camp with us. All is still along the line and nothing new.
Saturday, Dec 12th—The morning cloudy and all is well in camp to day. All is still along the line. Nothing new from the front. But it did rain all day and all night. But our tents did not leak a drop.
Sunday, December 13th—The morning cloudy and raining but it broke away about 9 o’clock and our regiment went out on picket this morning for 5 days and I had to get up soon to draw the rations for them in time to fall in line at 9 o’clock. They went to the Rapidan on picket. We are about 4 miles from Brandy Station encamped on the side of a high hill in a big Oak woods. But we won’t stay there long. All is well.
December 14th—Near to the Hazel River about 4 miles from Brandy Station. Sunday afternoon I and Snyder and another man took a ramble through the country and we crossed over the river on the pontoon bridge and we went about 4 miles from the camp. I went to see if I could find Young but we did not find his regiment. They told us that the 5th Corps was at Moore’s [?] Junction so we turned back to camp again.
December 14th Near Welford’s Ford
My Dear Wife,
I am well and in good health and I hope that you are the same. I got your last letter dated the 9th. Mother, I got all of the letters and got my stamps today. I am glad to think that I have got a son to help his mother along in her troubles and may God bless him. I never shall forget him as long as I live. David, when I read that letter, I thought about you and how hard I have been to you. But I hope it was all for the best so let it pass by forever. Give to her what you can and God will reward you.
[Your] Samuel is well. Mother, we are all busy in building our tents and just got them all done but we think we will have to leave them again for this is the 3rd time we have put them up in different places. And if we have to leave them again, we will not put them up again this winter.
Forgive my short letter at this time. Your affectionate husband until death, — S. Clayton
Last page of Samuel Clayton’s Second Diary and sample of his handwriting & signature.
I could not find an image of Giles but here’s one of George W. Keene who also served in the 17th Maine Infantry
“Three cheers for Little Mac!” might be the theme of this letter penned by Giles Grant Berry (1842-1904), the son of Joel and Joann Berry of Passadumkeag, Penobscot county, Maine where Giles was working as a barkeeper when he was drafted in August 1863 and placed into Co. B, 17th Maine Infantry. He remained with the regiment until mustering out on 14 June 1865.
When Giles wrote this letter in September 1864, he was with his regiment in the breastworks near Petersburg. His four-page letter is devoted almost entirely to news of George McClellan’s nomination for President by the Democratic Party—his best hope for a speedy termination of the war. “If he is defeated, we know what to look for in the future as in the past—war for another four years—until every man in the North is killed or crippled,” he wrote his brother-in-law, Simon Pendleton. Simon was married to Giles’ older sister, Merriam.
Transcription
Headquarters 17th Maine Infantry 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 2nd Corps From breastworks near Petersburg, Va.
September 6, 1864
Dear Brother Sime & Sister Merriam,
Your kind letters I received some time ago but have not had time to answer them before. We are now laying here in the front but I do not know how long we shall stay here as military life is very uncertain.
McClellan Campaign Ribbon
We received the news of the nomination of Gen. Geo. B. McClellan the 3rd of this month and there was great rejoicing through the army. the army will surely go for Little Mac. Gen. Hancock, our Corp. Commander, made a speech to the troops yesterday advising them to vote for Mac. What do you think of that, when the Glorious Hancock—one of our best generals and the Republicans, one of the great lovers of the country come out for Little Mac, a man who the republicans say is a traitor—what do you think of that? Tell them to put that into their pipes and smoke it. Mac will carry the army by an overwhelming majority. Every true and loyal man who loves his country will vote for him. 1 And if he be elected, peace will be once more restored to our bleeding country. But if he is defeated, we know what to look for in the future as in the past—war for another four years—until every man in the North is killed or crippled. I hope every candid man will consider these things before he votes and if Mac is elected, there will be great rejoicing throughout the country.
Sime, I know you are a true McClellan man. I suppose your state election comes off next Monday. I wish I was at home to vote with you. As soon as you get the returns, I wish you would send me the Belfast Journal or tell Robert too, I think he takes it.
The Johnnies are very quiet on our front and very friendly too. They do not fire at each other while on picket and we meet each other half way between the line and exchange coffee for tobacco. They say they are tired of the war but if Lincoln is elected, they will fight another four years. But if any other man be elected, there will be peace.
I have not been very well for the past week but feel better today. I suppose you are having good times at home. I wish I was home with you. I think I could get enough to eat. The rations we get here now are very poor. The pork is enough to kill any man to eat and everything else is about the same way.
Well Sime, I don’t know as I have any more to write at present that will interest you. I wrote to Father some time ago but never have received any answer from him. I wish he would write for I want to hear from him and know how he is doing. Tell Mother that I am well and I should like to be at home to get some of her good biscuits. Give my best respects to all the folks. Kiss little Elden for me. Tell them I am for Mac to the hub.
When I heard from Fannie and Carrie last, they were well. They will move to Albion with father Huntoon in two or three weeks. I hope I shall not have to stay out here any longer than this winter. Well dear sister & brother, I will close by wishing you good luck and prosperity through life. Write soon. Three cheers for Little Mac!
Yours truly— Giles G. Berry, Co. B, 17th Maine Infantry
1 “The army at Petersburg awoke on the morning of Tuesday, November 8 from a rainy night. A firefight had broken out hours earlier along the 2nd Corps front when pickets from the 17th Maine cheered for Lincoln, eliciting a scattered return volley for Little Mac from the Rebels. Guided by elected judges and clerks, most regiments opened polls by 8 or 9 a.m. and used ammunition chests for ballot boxes. Soldiers lined up, presented proper paperwork if necessary, and voted with party tickets in a referendum on the army’s two competing understandings of loyalty.” [HistoryNet—The Soldier Vote] Apparently Giles had deluded himself into thinking he was in the majority.
I could not find an image of William but here is a CDV of William P. McNeil of Co. H., 2nd New York Heavy Artillery (LOC)
This letter was written by a member of Co. A or Co. H of the 2nd New York Heavy Artillery (NYHA) from Fort Ward, Virginia. It is my opinion that the letter was penned by Lt. William Smith Rulison (1840-1901) of Co. H, 2nd NYHA to his mother, Sophia (Van Antwerp) Rulison (1809-1887). In the final paragraph, William states that “Mary is well” and I believe he is referring to his wife, Mary Abigail Johnson (1841-1916) with whom he married in 1861.
William was promoted to Captain of Co. C in January 1864. He resigned on account of disability on 18 July 1864.
In 1860, William was enumerated in his parents home in Champion, Jefferson county, New York, where his occupation was recorded as “Land Office Clerk.”
[Note: The letter was datelined 1861 but this was clearly an error.]
Transcription
Fort Ward, Alexandria, Virginia March 30, 1862
Dear Mother,
I received your letter yesterday and was very glad to hear from you for I had begun to think you had forgotten me. Ever since we wrote, we have been pretty busy drilling from five to seven hours every day and you may believe the sun does not spare me for I am getting as black as an Egyptian, but I do not think I am any the worse for it. The boys all say I have grown both tall and broad a considerable since I have been in Virginia.
Since I last wrote we having some grand times here. The place where we are encamped is a large level field with as many as 200 acres of land in it, and within the last week there has been three grand reviews of soldiers on it. The first day there were 40,000. The second there were thirty thousand, and the third there were as many as seventy-five thousand soldiers—infantry, artillery, and cavalry. There was General McClellan, McDowell, King, McCall, Harney, Barry, and Williams, besides Lord Lyons and as many as a dozen Congressmen. I saw them all and some of them are fine-looking, you may believe.
Our Colonel’s (for we have one and a good one too by the name of [Gustav] Wagner—a Hungarian) orderly was sick for three or four days and I had to act in his place while doing so. I had to go to Gen. Harney’s headquarters with a dispatch. While I was there, McClellan and McDowell came in and I had a good view of them. McClellan is not as tall as I supposed he was and his hair is not as dark. Tell Soph he made me think of Napoleon. But after all, Gen. Harney is the man for me. He has got the best Brigade and the handsomest horses this side of the Potomac.
Col. [Jeremiah] Palmer of our regiment has resigned and we have a first best “Col” now or at least he ought to be for he has served twenty-three years in public service and been in 17 batteries. He was in the Revolution of 1848 with Kossuth.
But Mother, I must stop for it is time for parade. Mary is well and Mr. Jones is better and I am first rate. Goodbye, — Wm.
Spared & Shared 22 