My father, Harrison Murray Stafford, left Chardon, Ohio about 1934 and settled in Los Angeles, California. His father, Reuben Murray Stafford, was a son of Abram Harrison Stafford. upon my father's passing in 1992, I came into possession of these diaries and decided to transcribe them before they completely faded and deteriorated.
The diaries contrast the lives of Abram H. Stafford and Mary E. Churchill during the years he served in Company E of the 103rd Regiment of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry. It offers insight into what life was like in Chardon and what an ordeal the Civil War was for those who fought in it.
My great grandparents left me a precious gift, in allowing me to know them a little and understand the culture they lived in. I'm proud to share it with others interested in the heritage of Chardon Ohio.
Michael Harrison Stafford
This is a transcription of the Diary of Abram Harrison Stafford\par of Chardon Ohio, the son of Reuben Stafford. Abram served in Company E of the 103 Regiment of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry, 2ndBrigade 3rd Division. The spelling of words have been kept but phrases have been grouped or put into sentences.
Michael Harrison Stafford
A great grandson }
Friday, July 1, 1864
Weather clear & vary hot. We are building new works. Last night we got 1 days ration of bread. Boys all in good spirits & will be until after their grub is all out. We have to go out on skirmish. Mail came but none for Abe.
Saturday, July 2, 1864
Weather vary hot & sultry. We are on skirmish - have advanced about 1/4 mile. A few bullets whistled around but no one hurt. Some of us went outside of the lines & got some apples to make sauce. After a while when they wer most all gone, the jonnies said we couldent have eny more. Our brigade mooved & built works. We came in about dark & went to work in front of our Co. Couldent lay down until they wer finished. Mail, but none for Abe.
Sunday, July 3, 1864
Weather vary hot. Got up at 4 & finished up our works. It was so dark one couldent see how to work. I wrote a letter to Mary. Our force held Kenasaw Mountain & Merryetta. We have orders to march at 5 tomorrow morning. Had a prair meeting this eavening & preaching today.
Monday, July 4, 1864
Weather vary hot. I dont know as I ever saw it eny hotter - a jolly 4th this. I have had 2 glasses of slop lemond ade. Have got good grub of hard tack and tea. Wrote a letter to Hays. We have not mooved. Gen Cox sais he shant move unless he is obliged to, but Col Cammeron has been over there every hour trying to get a chance to moove.
Tuesday, July 5, 1864
Weather vary hot & hardley a cloud to be seen. I was on gard last night over at Colonel Camerons quarters. We left our works about 10 - mooved about a mile to the front. We are taking in some of the jonnies. We have got 4 days rations - no small load for this weather. Allen T. Pardon came back to our Co. this morning
Wednesday, July 6, 1864
Weather fine but vary hot. Got up at 4 - got breakfast & laid around waiting for artillary & wagons to pak. Marched 7 miles & went into camp about 9 Oclock. Saw some of the vary strongest works I ever saw but once. They wer all along our line of march - 2 & 3 deep but they wer of little or no use. We flanked them out. Got 2 letters - one from Mary.
Thursday, July 7, 1864
Weather extremely hot - yes more than hot. We had revalee at 3 1/2 Oclock - marched at 5 - went 2 miles - stoped & went into camp. I hope we will stay here a day or 2 & draw cloths. I wrote a letter home. Got some apples & had some sauce. Wheat is harvested & thrashed down here in some of the places - corn 8 feet tall & tassled out.
Friday, July 8, 1864
Weather extremely hot. I dont know as I ever saw hotter. Left our camp at 4 - had revalee at 2 1/2 Oclock. Advanced about 5 miles. Came to a crick where the rebs had burnt a brig. We forded the crick but nothing could get up the steep banks but\par infantry. WE continude to advance until we reached the Chattahoochee. This we had to ford. The 103d was in advance. Took them by surprise & all of our reg got across before they found it out. We had 6 companies skermaching as soon as we affected a landing. The 3 Brig sent over men in pontoons - drove them back. Our boys shot 9 horces belonging to a gun & the 12 Ky captured the gun. The skirmachers of both brigades shot at the gunners & made them leave. The gun is said to be one that Kirby Smith captured in Ky at Boling Green. We took up a posish about a mile out & fortifide nearly ... One man got drounded in our Brigade. None wounded.
Saturday, July 9, 1864
Weather extremely hot. Took up a new posish this morning & fortifide. Have got some vary good works. Got the pontoons down last night & Brig crost this morning & the 2 Division crossed afterwards. Chaplain has just come around with some tracts for us to read. Eny thing to pass away the time. Went down to the river & had a good swim. It is just 23 months today since I enlisted. That gun we captured yesterday was made by V. T. Ames, Springfield Mass.
Sunday, July 10, 1864
Weather cloudy but hot. Had meeting today. Had prair meeting last night. Wrote a letter to Mary & received a letter from Susan.
Monday, July 11, 1864
Weather hot & some are suffering vary much from the affects. Went out on skirmish line. The rebs are not vary thick - still they occasionaly come to make us a visit. It rained pretty hard yesterday.
Tuesday, July 12, 1864
Weather the same as usual. Got relieved from picit - had a vary good time. The medical instructer has been around & looked in all of our mouths to see if we had the skirvy. Our regament was\par frear than almost eny other. Command sais we need some vegitables vary mutch. I think they would be vary exceptable. Went in bathing in the Chattahoochee river.
Wednesday, July 13, 1864
Weather vary warm. Every thing seems vary quiet. I hope they will get us some clothing before we moove. We all need it vary mutch. Got some cloths. I got a pair of pants - got 16 pairs of pants. Captain Sargeant has got back from Cleveland. I am glad he has returned to take command.
Thursday, July 14, 1864
Weather vary hot. All quiet in camp. Our captain sais the 150 Ohio refuzed to go to the front. He sais 5 of them went. I say bully for that. John Cilbern, David Camp & myself got a pass & went out blackberrying. Went about 5 miles. I got a couple of quarts & got something els & that was vary tiard. Yesterday 10 men wer picked up by the Rebs while after baries.
Friday, July 15, 1864
Weather vary hot. Last night we had a vary heavy thunder shower. We all got wet. Tents leak vary bad in sutch heavy showers. Yesterday we mooved our lines about 1/2 mile & fortifyde. The Brig over the Chattahoochee River was completed yesterday. Wrote a letter to Mary.
Saturday, July 16, 1864
Weather extremely hot. Nothing going on of eny account. I went over to the 104. They are laying back in camp - no skirmish or picit duty to do. But it is nothing new for them to lay around in the rear. Our old Doctor went home today. He has resigned. He is not able to be in the field. He made us a vary good speach & we gave him 9 good cheers. His name Griswold - lives ...
Sunday, July 17, 1864
Weather extremely hot. We have orders to march at 6 1/2 - drawed rations - 3 days making 4 days. Marched at specified time. Went about 4 miles. No vary grate opposition - only a little skirmishing.
Monday, July 18, 1864
Weather extremely hot. Had revalee at 2 1/2 - started at 5. Went about 5 miles. No rebs in our front of eny account. Got some apples & lots of ripe blackberries. A few shots from one of our cannon was the most I heard. Got a letter from Mary - it was July 11th. I saw an old Negro woman said to be 110 years old. She could walk. Also saw a fig tree at the same place with figs on.
Tuesday, July 19, 1864
Weather extremely warm. Had to get up at 3 1/2 - started at 5. Went 10 miles. Our forces enterd Decater about 3 Oclock. Our division came around to the right of the town. A small bit of skirmaching & a little canonading was all. No grate opposition. One of General Schofield staf was wounded but not seriously. Took up a posish & fortifide. Got my supper about 4 1/2 Oclock.
Wednesday, July 20, 1864
Weather what some would call hot. Got up at 3 1/2 0 orders to start at 5 mooved out at 6. Marched & skirmached 2 miles. Had some vary sharp fiaring. Our corps captured about 300 prisoners. Rations are gone. We are in the front line as usual. Built works - have got vary good ones. Our Division took up their posish with vary little trouble. Pretty heavy fiaring all along the lines.
Thursday, July 21, 1864
Weather clear & vary warm. I received 2 letters today. One from home & one from Florence Wescott. Vary sharp skirmaching this\par morning & last night, the same. They are vary clost togather. Wrote 2 letters. One home & one to Mary.
Friday, July 22, 1864
Weather extremely warm. The rebs left their works in front of our Corps & I guess all along the lines. We advanced 2 miles. Got vary near Atlanty - built works & left before they wer done & mooved by the left flank to reinforce Mc fers on the extreme left. They had a hot time. Rebs massed their forces & took a lot of prisoners & 20 pieces of artillery - all of which was taken back, but 2 pieces, & most of the men. We took 2500 of them. They marched us vary fast - some of the time on double quick. Warm time we had all along the line. We built another line of works.
Saturday, July 23, 1864
Weather hot & cloudy. Co. E was out on picit last night & skirmish yesterday. This morning they called us in & mooved out & took up a posish where the rebs charged & took the works with 4 peacies of 20 pound Parries. One is bursted. There is lots of dead lying around. They have had a detail to burry them. It looks hard. Lots are shot through the head. We are laying in their works. We have reversed them. We have lookouts in the trees. They say they are massing their forces & think they are agoing to charge again but I dont believe it. Still they may. The Rebs are pretty thick. Our reg covered up 75. They laid in piles of 8 & 10 in some places & near 8 horces all piled up. They wer our horces the rebs died to take them off. Our fellows let them have in artillery volley.
Sunday, July 24, 1864
Weather pleasant & not quite so warm as usual. Last night was the coldest night we have had for a long time - all quiet last night. They had a meeting this morning but we had to fall in & broak up the meeting. Tried to have a Prair meeting at night but the Jonnies disputed our right & three shell rather clostly for some to stay. Therefore the meeting was closed. I think they wer vary easily cooled.
Monday, July 25, 1864
Weather clear & vary warm in the midle of the day - but last night was vary cool. I was on gard & I felt cold with my blanket on. No moove today but a considerable canonadering. I receive 2 letters from home & one from Mary & answered the latter. One of Christopher Staffords boys was here to see me. He belongs to the 6 Iowa V. V. I. 2nd Brig 4th Div 15th A. C. He is quarter master Sargeant.
Tuesday, July 26, 1864
Weather cloudy & looks like rain. All quiet last night. Our fellows had some fiar works last night. Throwed up some rockets. Wrote 2 letters. One to Susan & one to Florence Wescott. Some pretty sharp skirmaching & a good deal of artillary fiaring. I climb one of the tallest pine trees in the woods & looked at Atlanta & the reb works through Old Jacks glass & our Captains. They have line after line & strong forts. They have a good posish on this side.
Wednesday, July 27, 1864
Weather vary cloudy & rained considerable during the day. Last night we had orders to moove at 12 Oclock but dident start until after daylight on account of the 15, 16, & 17 corps not getting all away before that time.. They being on our left, the 16 & 17 corps are going around on our right - & the 15 corps are going swing back & form a flank. Rebs new we had prepared to leave for they could see us from their works. They dident press us very hard but threw a few shell after us which done no particular damage. We took up our posish on Haskels left - our reg being the only one of our brig on the front line. The rest are held in reserve. They are building vary strong works here & places for lots of artillery. They had a pretty heavy artillery duel this afternoon & we all got thearley wet. Houses fare hard being tore down to make flores for soldiers to lay down. Gen Ewells houce stands close by or what is left of it.
Thursday, July 28, 1864
Weather cloudy but warm. We are still making our works stronger - both sides are shelling pretty vigerously. Got 2 letters - one from home & one from Mary & some paper. About noon the rebs gave us a vary severe shelling. Their guns was hade a perfect rake of our ditches. They killed quite a number - of the 2 Div was wounded only one, from our brig about 9. We were ordered to fall in. We advanced from 2 to 2 1/2 miles out - found the Jonnies. They advanced us so far up that the rebs shot into both flanks & eaven in the rear they had a line of battle fortyfying. We wer within 25 rods of their lines & 2 forts. Their skirmish line was\par not vary heavy. Our reg was on skirmish, the 24 Reg was reserve but was afterward ordered up on our left. Rebs tried to march around us with 2 lines of battle. This made us fall back. They opened artillary on the front - 5 different points. They shot pretty well - done vary little hurt. Lost 4 men wounded.
Friday, July 29, 1864
Weather vary warm & sultry. The picits are having rather sharp times. Rained a little today - made the air a little cooler. News came today from Gen Shermond (Sherman?) that the rebs loss in yesterday fight with the 15, 16, & 17 Corps was over 10,000 killed - wounded - prisoners. They charged our fellows works. Our loss was not 2,000.
Saturday, July 30, 1864
Weather warm as usual - not mutch going on today. I went down to the crick & washed my self & cloths. Wrote a letter to Mary. I was on duty last night - camp gard was the duty. It is said that Colonel Riley got a star today.
Sunday, July 31, 1864
Weather cloudy & considerable rain. Had preaching at 8 O'clock - I attended. Not mutch going on. News around camp that we are a going to moove. Have orders to stay in camp for fear of a moove. Colonel Cameron has resigned - so rhumers is. Today has been unusual quiet - only rebs? canon have been fiard. The skirmachers don't shoot near so mutch as canon. Drawed some cloths.
Monday, August 1, 1864
Weather cloudy with considerable rain. Have got orders to be ready to moove in a moments notice. We mooved out after dark. Some of Stonemans cavelry, we are going around on the right flank. Marched about 1 mile - stopped for the night. It was 10 Oclock when we halted for the night.
Tuesday, August 2, 1864
Weather vary warm. Commenced our march about 7 Oclock. Marched 8 or 10 miles but not in a strait line. We marched & got our posish about dark without mutch fighting - only a little shirmaching. 2 of our Brig was wounded by a chance shot. Every one thought we would get into a fight out here. But all wer agreeable disapointed. I for one was vary mutch so. Build works.
Wednesday, August 3, 1864
Weather vary hot & we are strengthing our works. I saw a dead Major this morning. He belonged to out division. They have been trying to shell us & drive in our skirmachers - but they dident make mutch. Vary heavy canonadering all along the line as far as one can hear. We chainged places with the 24th Ind. They had to hot? a place for sutch trade it is out in an open field
Thursday, August 4, 1864
Weather cloudy & some rain. Got orders to march at 7 Oclock. Mooved out & to the right - went to support a division of the 14 Corps. Our hole div was there. They had a little fighting but\par nothing vary severe. The 105 are clost by & dosent leave for fear the reg will leave. Rebs shelled us considerable but done vary little damage. Wrote a letter home.
Friday, August 5, 1864
Weather clear & vary hot. I have been to see the boys in the 105 - saw a good many. I knew Preserved (Fish? - my guess) was sick. Went to the hospital while I was there. The rest of the boys was all well. They had one killed yesterday. I believe his name was Pease - lives in Newberg. We mooved out about noon, went to the right - took our posish where the regular Brig of the 14 Corps built works. The 1st Brig in reserve.
Saturday, August 6, 1864
Weather pleasant but hot. 1st Brig mooved out. They have tried to take some works which they failed. They lost pretty heavy. A good many were taken prisoner. They lost killed, wounded & missing 298 - but a good many are coming in all the time. I dont think their loss will mutch exceed 200. Our brig was sent out to cover their retreat. Our reg was marched up to within 100 yard of their works. First brig all of lighting out - left our reg all alone with shell with shell flying all around but they couldent see us for brush. We kepted them in their works. Rained vary hard and wet us all. We staid until dark & then let out. Could not go before dark. We lost one killed. The 104 lost 25 killed & wounded & missing. They wer most all on reserve as common.
Sunday, August 7, 1864
Weather vary hot. Drawed rations & took up a posish with the rest of our brig back in the woods. Drawed rations dident get full rations. One of our Co got lost last night when leaving for the rear - in fact we all wer lost for about 1 1/2 hours but found after a while where our lines was. Vary dark. The Oficers in out brig thaut our reg was gone up yesterday when they saw us march acrofs the field. Old Jack took us across & staid most of the time. He is a regular leader(?) - had a little wiskey but his head was clear. The rebs striped our dead and wounded that laid so clost to their works. We could not get them away. Our regiments skirmachers took in 12 or 15 prisoners - one Capt & a\par Lieut.
Monday, August 8, 1864
Weather cloudy & hot. I was on duty last night. Mooved out a little before noon. Took up a posish without mutch trouble & built works - the best I believe we ever built. It rained all the afternoon & made it vary bad working. Robert Nevil was promoted to Corporal & John Silbern to Sargeant. I received 2 letters - one from home - the other from Mary.
Tuesday, August 9, 1864
Weather vary rainey - mooved out before we could get breakfast. Took up a new posish & built works. We are in plain sight of the jonnies. There is an open field in front of us for 2 1/2 ord miles. This is to be an important part of the line. There is general knough around here. 2 years ago today, I enlisted.
Wednesday, August 10, 1864
Weather stormy. We are still laying in the same posish - not mutch going on. Wrote a letter to Mary.
Thursday, August 11, 1864
Weather hot. Have drawed some clothing today. Got a letter from a Stub yesterday. Wrote home. Carpenter tied up to a tree by Mead for refusing to police.
Friday, August 12, 1864
Weather clear & vary warm. Got up at daylight. Was relieved about an hour after by 14 Corps 2 Division. We mooved to the right on a reconacance. Mooved out to Haskels right - then formed the division in line - our brig on the right & conciderable in advance. Had some pretty sharp skirmarching & drove them back to their main works & vary near the railroad the cars past. Some of the boys said they saw them. I know they were vary near. Got back to camp about 9 Ocl tiard & hungry. Our brig lost 3 men wounded - none from the 102d. We wer flanked - had to have skirmachers on 3 sides. Rebs closed in around us as we passed on. I think flanking them is plaid out as their works extend farther than ours. We need more men. We found 2 batteries dident do eny harm. Marched about 6 miles perhaps. Saw some grain corn but couldent stop to get it.
Saturday, August 13, 1864
Weather vary warm - boys went out foragin. Took guns & drove rebs back. One of our soldiers killed & 2 wounded. They made the rebs git out. They brought back lots of corn for supper. I had green corn. Rations pretty short - pork & no salt.
Sunday, August 14, 1864
Weather vary warm. Had preaching this forenoon & prayer meeting in the evening. I have been over to the 105 OVI. Saw the boys - all well but pri(?) - he is back in the rear sick.
Monday, August 15, 1864
Weather hot. The sweat runs off from one like it does from a glass pitcher when filled with cold water. I have washed my cloths today - pants shirts & socks. This is all I have got. 1 1/2 Oclock - orders have just come to be ready to march at 4 Oclock. All that are sick have been sent to the rear. Struck\par tents at 4. Mooved out on the right of Haskle & took up a posich just after dark & fortifide. Had to work pretty late.
Tuesday, August 16, 1864
Weather vary hot. Finished our works - rebs have got 1 fort & 2 embrasures in plain sight. They have a hard nest in our front. Drawed rations - 3 days haft to last 5. This is pretty short in active service. The 23 Ind Battery is laying next to our Co. They have brass guns - not mutch account for long range but good for a charge. Received a letter from Mary.
Wednesday, August 17, 1864
Weather vary warm. I was on duty last night. 4 Men have went out foragain. I volantierd to go out with the teams. Went 10 miles - 5 miles beyond rebs picits - no opposition of eny account. Got 3 wagon loads of corn. Got back about 5 Oclock - all vary tiard & some hungry. 1st Brig was out - got scart & wouldent wait for us. Let them go. They waited for us where got in side of picits.
Thursday, August 18, 1864
Weather vary warm. Got orders to be ready to move at a moments notice. Started about 10 - mooved out to the right & swang around so that our lines are 1 mile farther in advance than they wer before. Took a posish & built works about as quick as ever we did. They wer shelling us pretty hard. A considerable number was killed & wounded out of our brig on the skirmish. Drove pretty hard.
Friday, August 19, 1864
Weather warm & a light shour of rain got up at 4 Oclock. Have orders to moove at 5 Oc. Laid around most all day expecting to moove - but dident. Put up tents about 5. The rebs works are in vary plain sight. Some are without 3/4 of a mile. They have 6 forts or redouts in our imediate front - all in plain sight. Gen Cox thaught there wasent eny men or artillery in their works - but our artillery soon drawed them out.
Saturday, August 20, 1864
Weather cloudy with some rain. Last night had quite a shour of rain. Rebs shelled most all night. Some got into the ditches but I coundent see being drove out of bed. Gen Killpaterick cut the west point railroad & has gone for the macon.
Sunday, August 21, 1864
Been to church - had a good meeting. Wrote 2 letters - one home & one to Mary. They have about half of us on duty everyday for shirmish & other things.
Monday, August 22, 1864
Weather wet - rained most all day. Some of the boys went out after corn but did not get eny. Some canonading but not mutch damage. A few get gobbled up every day out in the country.
Tuesday, August 23, 1864
Weather clear & warm. I went out after corn. Went about 6 1/2 miles - got some splendid corn. I fetched in 65 ears - kept some for myself & let the Co. have the rest. I went with Silbern & Maple. They braught the same. Two of the 65 Ind was killed & one wounded & 2 more taken prisoner.
Wednesday, August 24, 1864
Weather vary warm. I have been up to see Will Churchill. He is well & tough. Rebs have done a good deal of shelling & Battery D 1st Ohio done some strait shooting. They shelled our reg pretty hard but hurt no one. Killed one out of the 65 Ind - struck side of the head - piece of shell.
Thursday, August 25, 1864 Weather warm. I was on duty last night. Received a letter from Mary. I had a good wash. Washed all my cloths & myself. Not mutch going on - only mooving loose baggage back to the rear. Co. B's Pioneer shot one of his Co. while trying to extract the load from his pistol. Everyone thinks that there is a big moove about to take place. There is as many conjectures as there is differant ways for the wind to blow.
Friday, August 26, 1864
Weather warm. Rained a good shower in the afternoon. The 4 & 14 Corps are mooving around on our right. Said they are agoing to advance tomorrow. Large details are sent off to work - but I dont know where.
Saturday, August 27, 1864
Weather pretty warm - rained a good shower this morning about 4 Oc. We are orderd to be ready to moove in a moment. A good many think we wont have to move. We are strenthening our works. Wrote a letter to Mary. The 2nd Division struck tents - got\par shelled for their trouble.
Sunday, August 28, 1864
Weather clear & vary warm. I am on picit or skirmish. A good deal of excitement back in camp - men all in ditches ready for a charge. 2 lines of battle have come over their works & advanced clost to their skirmachers in a ravene & they have remassed behind their works. Our orders was to give the best doce possible. I went out on scout to see what they wer a doing. Couldent see a reb so I shot at the mark. Had not more than took my gun down before 6 or 8 bullets came whistling & scarring up the ground. I jumped behind a tree a tree & exchanged a few shots - but they had the advantage so I lit for the woods. Brig mooved & built works. 2 miles.
Monday, August 29, 1864
Weather warm - had revalee at 3 1/2 Oclock but dident start until quite late. We mooved out by the right flank - the whole army doing the same. Our corps on the left. We marched about 7 miles & built works. Our reg was in a potatoe patch. Put up vary light works. Not meny rebs in around here. Went out after some corn but it was all picked. Drawed rations - 3 days for 5 & rather short at that.
Tuesday, August 30, 1864
Weather hot - had to get up at 3 Oclock but dident moove out until 8 Oclock. Then our moovement was vary slow. Went about 6 miles. Built works. Some went out after forage - I with the rest. 2 from our reg got captured. One belonged to C - the other to F. We crossed the atlanta & westpoint railroad about 2\par Oclock. It was tore up & rails croocked in every shape.
Wednesday, August 31, 1864
Weather extremely warm - had revalee at 3 Oclock but I couldent see getting up so early - but up in time to get my breakfast. Today we took the lead of our corps. We passed the 4 corps or a part of it about 2 Oclock. They had taken one line of works. We helped & took one more line of works & got on the railroad. I believe we dident loose a man. Officers & men feel good over out splendid success - reverced the rebs works come 8 mile.
Thursday, September 1, 1864
Weather warm & smokey on account of so mutch railroad being burned. We are now out on a burning expodition - waiting for the rails to get hot so we can twist them up in all shapes. We have twisted one batch. We twist them around trees & stumps & in almost any shape. We went up through 6 ready station. Our brig went up & the 1st brig went down. They dident twist hardly eny of their rails. Got back to camp - about 11 1/2 miles - had 1/2 hour to get our dinner in. Started at 12 - marched about 9 miles. Roads vary dusty & most of us vary tiard - arrived in camp at dusk. Camped in a vary large cornfield. There was beans planted between the hills. The boys more than went for beans & corn. I got a mess of beans & cooked them for supper. Went to bead rather late.
Friday, September 2, 1864
Weather vary hot. Got up a 4 Oclock but dident moove out untill about 8. Mooved out on the left - 2nd division taking the lead. Our brig was at the head of our division. We had to look out for the trains. We mooved vary uneaven - resting for a long time\par then starting up & going untill one would be almost exhausted. The Rebs laid in ambush for us but our skirmachers found them & made them git supported by a line of battle. At dusk our reg was sent out on a road to picit untill after the trains all passed. We passed 150 wounded men all laying out on the ground with no tents & vary little grub or medison. They wer all vary badley hurt. Most of them seemed to be contented that they fell into our hands. We dident get into camp untill 2 oclock. Boys all vary tiard 7 sleepy. Rebs evacuated Atlanta last night & blue up 80 carloads of ammunition. 20th Corps went into the town at eleven today. This is a vary big thing on jonnie. We crowded them so fast that they left their kettels & meal all set up.
Saturday, September 3, 1864
Weather cloudy & looks as though it would rain. It rained vary hard this morning about 4. Got some wet. Those poor wounded rebs must have suffered for it rained vary hard. Had some sweet potatoes for breakfast. 8 Oclock - had orders to moove. Mooved up to our Brig. Drawed rations - 3 days for 5. Laid there untill most night - then mooved about 1 mile & put up tents. It rained vary hard. About noon news came today that Atlanta is ours. Rebs evacuated Sep 1st in the night - blue up 80 car loads of ammunition.
Sunday, September 4, 1864
Weather cloudy but warm - not mutch going on today. Some fiaring to the front. Had orders to moove at 6 Oclock - got all ready but dident moove. Rebs shelled our camp.
Monday, September 5, 1864
Weather warm but looks some like rain in the morning. Rained vary hard about 4 & continued to rain untill after 6. We mooved out about 6 1/2. Things vary wet & mud vary deep. Rebs shelled our camp pretty hard but hurt no one. Mooved out about 1 mile & staid untill 12 Oc.
Tuesday, September 6, 1864
Weather rainey & vary hot. Mooved out at midnight - vary slipery. A great meny fell down. Mud in places above the knees. Night vary dark. Marched 8 mi - stoped for breakfast. Stoped near where we camped on the night of the 1st. We expected to moove out but dident. Rained as hard as ever I saw it in my life. Some had their tents up - some not.
Wednesday, September 7, 1864
Weather cloudy - got up at 5. Had orders to moove at 6. I hearr that John Morgan is killed. Was killed near Greenville Tenn - 100 of his men killed & wounded, 70 taken prisoner. All of his staff was taken. He was not killed dead but died of his wounds. Mooved out about 10 - marched 14 miles & stop for the night. I was some tiard.
Thursday, September 8, 1864
Weather vary cloudy with a little mist. Had revalee at 4 & marched at 5 1/2. Came to Decator about 9 1/2 - distance 8 miles. Laid around until after our officers found a place to camp. One of Co B boys was taken by reb cavelry vary clost to camp while after water. They took most all of his cloths & run him off about 6 miles. He gave them the slip - our men crowded them too hard. We are building heavy works.
Friday, September 9, 1864
Weather clear & warm. We are building works 12 feet at the\par bottom & 6 feet at the top. All dug from the outside yesterday. I received 4 letters - 2 from home, 1 from Susan, & one from Mary. 25 months today since I enlisted.
Saturday, September 10, 1864
Weather hot. Had to poliece our ground up nice. I washed all my cloths. Drawed 5 days full rations. A considerable talk about our going to Corps headquarters to do gard & provo duty. Most like the idea.
Sunday, September 11, 1864
Weather vary warm. Had revalee at 5 Oc. I was on duty last night - had orders to be ready to moove at 8. Mooved about 9 over to General Scholfields quarters for duty. Camped on the east side of the road opsit headquarters. We are in an open field. We have orders to put up our tents in stile (style?) D. Suppose we will have to put on lots of stile. We did when we came up here.
Monday, September 12, 1864
Weather vary hot. Went to work & piked our streat & built shade to hole length. It makes it cool & vary pleasent. We have the nicest streat in the Reg. Sent a letter home. Fred Hinkly has got back to his Co. He bunks with me. Started from Knoxville one week ago. He has been gone from the Co 1 year.
Tuesday, September 13, 1864
Weather vary warm. I have been straggeling around up town a few moments. Got a shave & hair dressed. Our Brig inspector was around condeming our old traps, canteens, haver sacks, tents & knapsacks. He condemed a great meny & said they all had aught to be condemed.
Wednesday, September 14, 1864
Weather warm in the daytime & cool at night. Our duty is pretty heavy a detail - went to Stanton(?) with prisoners.
Thursday, September 15, 1864
Weather cool nights & hot days. We are having a good rest. I was on gard last night - stood a 3 hour trick. Was one of the most splendid nights I ever saw. Got a letter from Mary & one from home. Wrote one to Mary.
Friday, September 16, 1864
Weather splendid & I hope it will keep so. The grub is coming into Decatur pretty fast. I hope they will bring some poark so we can draw the same. I weigh 137/103 lbs. Or Gates has raised cane by making my weight 103 instead of 137 lbs.
Saturday, September 17, 1864
Weather cloudy & now vary warm. Nothing going on of eny importance. One or two rebs braught in today.
Sunday, September 18, 1864
Weather wet & rainy - rained most all night. Last night Co C shade fell nocking down a lot of Co P tents. Ours came near falling. Rained all day. I baught a heart of mot & some fat. Got a letter from home.
Monday, September 19, 1864
Weather vary foggy in the morning but cleard up about 9 Oclock. I volantierd to go out with a forage train - went out by Stone Mountain - distance 10 miles. Found some first rate corn. Got about 1/2 loaded when the outpost came in & the Quarter Master orderd the teams to get out as soon as possible. Oh such a stampede I never saw. Fences wasent much in the way. They went on the dead run. 6 gards was all that staid to the field. The other 10 was after forage in the rear. We waited until the team got out of hearing - then followed. Went about 3 miles - found a team waiting for us & some of the gards that had been orderd back - among them was brigs(?) Mead - never known to be in danger. One man killed - 2 captured.
Tuesday, September 20, 1864
Weather cloudy. The 2nd Brig all went to Atlanta & Old Jack wanted our reg to go along. We went - some of the boys dident like it mutch. I went - not mutch there but what uncle sam owns. Houses are badly cut to peaces. Saw lots of their underground houses. Some of them quite comfortable. It is vary lonesome. I should think the place about the size of Painesville. 2 or 3 pretty good blocks. Distance there 6 1/2.
Wednesday, September 21, 1864
Weather somewhat rainey. Rained a good deal last night. I am on duty at the Corps Comissary.
Thursday, September 22, 1864
Weather cloudy with a little rain. Wrote a letter to Mary. Nothing going on.
Friday, September 23, 1864
Weather cloudy & not vary warm for this country. Not mutch going on. A few prisoners are braught in almost evry day - so are deserters from the Reb army. A couple came in today. They say that they are deserting every day. They both used to be northern men.
Saturday, September 24, 1864
Weather rainey. It rained about as hard today as I ever saw it. The mail came today & braught a letter from Mary. Corporal Robert Pivcle (Kevill?) was ketched asleep while on duty - some stir is being made about it.
Sunday, September 25, 1864
Weather pleasant. I went to meeting in the forenoon. Had a pretty good one - a native preacher. I liked his stile of talking - said nothing against the soldiers of eather party. He preaches again next wednesday evening. I went over to the 104 - saw Bill Churchill. He is well &b looks healthy. I never saw better works than our div has thrown up. Wrote a letter to Mary.
Monday, September 26, 1864
Weather clear & midling warm during the middle of the day - but last night it was vary cold. This morning at revalee the boys had a great deal of difaculty about their shoes. Some one had chainged them all around. Some had to get out with eny a good time to those that had big feet & had to get out barefooted. We have been fixing up our tent. There is 5 of us - Gates, Silburn, Hingley, Schlechter. Worked all day. Have got the best tent for\par the job.
Tuesday, September 27, 1864
Weather fine & warm. Schlechter went to bunk with Robert Kevill. John Vaucht came back from home. He has been home on a furlow.
Wednesday, September 28, 1864
Weather cloudy with some rain. Boys are most all getting up pretty good shanties. It is said that Governeer Brown of Georgia came into our lines yesterday. Wrote a letter to Milton. We got our pay. I got $125.00. They paid 6 months & settled up our clothing bill. I had 27 dollars coming in clothing money.
Thursday, September 29, 1864
Weather fine & rainy. I am on duty. Sent $100.00 home by the state agent. I have a little over 42 left. Boys more than going for pies & cake at the bakery.
Friday, September 30, 1864
Weather vary warm - rained a little last night. Drawed 5 days rations. No papers or mail comes through now - railroad cut.
Saturday, October 1, 1864
Weather warm & cloudy. Rained a little 3 or 4 times during the day. Washed all my cloths.
Sunday, October 2, 1864
Weather lowery & misty. I am on gard at uncle sams work shop. They are doing a big business. They are fixing up all of our corps wagons & ambulances.
Monday, October 3, 1864
Weather cloudy with some rain. They got orders to moove this morning at 6 - but I dont believe they can get ready so soon. Sent a letter to Mary by the chaplain - he has got his discharge.
Tuesday, October 4, 1864
Weather cloudy with considerable rain. We left our camp about 9 Oclock. Marched & crossted the Chattahoochee River - distance about 14 miles. Dident get into camp untill after dark. One span of the railroad brig has been taken away by high water. Encamped in a mud hole.
Wednesday, October 5, 1864
Weather middling fair. Took up our line of march at 7 Oc. Passed through Marietta & encamped a little way on the other side. It is by far the nicest place I have seen in the Confedracy. It has splended streats & nice houses - & what is more there is a good meny Ladies. Some good looking ones. Made\par 15 or 16 miles.
Thursday, October 6, 1864
Weather rainey. Rained dredfull hard last night & continues to rain. Got up at daylight but dident moove untill about 9 Oc. Rained most all day - vary muddy. Went 8 miles - dident get into camp untill dusk. We are betwixt Altona Pass & Big Shanty. Cap Tecane used me shabby - the first time an oficer ever misused me. I will remember him - his words wer uncalled for.
Friday, October 7, 1864
Weather clear & warm - it was vary foggy this morning. We had orders to moove but it was countermanded.
Saturday, October 8, 1864
Weather cold & clear. A vary cold raw wind is blowing. Had orders to strike tents earley & dident moove out untill 9 Oc. Came to Altona Pass - came through Ackworth. Rebs tore the road up hear for a good ways. Marched vary fast - got into town a little after dark - distance 9 m. There is 2,000,000 rations here. The Jonnies tride to take it with a division of 5 Brigades. We only had 2,000 men.
Sunday, October 9, 1864
Weather clear but a vary cold - wind is blowing. Last night it was vary cold - I liked to have froze. I have been over the battle field. They had clost work. The rebs loss is variousley estimated from 1400 to 2000. They took one fort but there was 2 others. Our cannon done good execution. Our loss was 700 killed, wounded, & taken prisoner. It is said that we took as meny prisoners or more that they. We got about 150 or 200 prisoners. Can see legs and arms by the c(h)ord. It is a sorry sight.
Monday, October 10, 1864
Weather clear & warm after the sun got up. Left Altona about 8 1/2. Went through Cartersville & on to Casville - distance 14 miles. General Sherman camped clost to us last night. Old Billey looks better that he did in the latter part of the campain. He came out to look at us after we had fell in. He a segar chewing but no light.
Tuesday, October 11, 1864
Weather clear & pleasant. Left Cassville about 8 Oclock went about 3 miles beyond Kingston. At this place the re is a junction - one going to Chattanooga - the other to Rome. We reached this place about one Ocl. Stoped for dinner & gave us a chance to vote for state & county Oficers. I voted. They concluded to lay over as voting & traveling couldent both be done\par at once. Distance 8 miles.
Wednesday, October 12, 1864
Weather clear & pleasant. Left camp about 8 Oc but had to wait after we got out to the road for the 3rd Div to pafs. Came through to Rome - distance 12 mi. Our cavelry & mounted infantry have had pretty hard skirmaching. They sent in an order for the surrender of the Town using the threat that if they had to fight & take it - they would kill all. I think they would have a nice time now for there is 3 corps here that I know of.
Thursday, October 13, 1864
Weather clear & pleasent but a little cool. I have been downtown. It has been a place of considerable business for a southern inland town. The main st is one mile long. We are stopping in the age of town. Our corps sent out for a reconnaisance have been out about 6 mi. They captured 75(?) prisoners & 2 peaces of artillery - horces. All our lofs vary light. Not much of a force - nothing that could stop a line of\par battle.
Friday, October 14, 1864
Weather pleasent. Had revalee at 4 Oc - started at 6 but there was such a large train ahead of us that we made only 11 miles. Stoped just at dark. The 4? corps is in our advance. They burn a good meny houses. I saw 2 or 3 where they burned them down where women & children lived - after stealing all they had to eat.
Saturday, October 15, 1864
Weather cloudy & cold. Had revalee at 4 1/2 - started at 8. Went through Calhoon before dinner. Stoped just long enough toget our grub & started. Pafsed through Resaca & camped about 2 miles west of the place. There is some tiard boys tonight. Distance 20 miles. There is considerable rations at Resaca. There was a little skirmaching here this morning.
Sunday, October 16, 1864
Weather cloudy. Got up at 4 1/2. Pulled down my tent & dried my tent. Mooved out about 6. Came through Snake Crick gap. Rebs had blockaded by falling timber. We made 15 miles. Camped 3 miles from the gap - got in a little after dark.
Monday, October 17, 1864
Weather pleasent. Laid in camp all day. Went out & got some chestnuts. Cut down a big tree. The hole army is hear except the 20th Corps. Rebs was here day before yesterday. They had 3 Corps. They told the citazens they had 5,000 wagons & 500 peaces of artillry. One honest old fellow said they wer 25 hours in passing & that they keped well closed up.
Tuesday, October 18, 1864
Weather cloudy. Had revalee at 4 1/2 - start at 6. 2nd Division\par is ahead. Dident get out more than 2 miles before 9 Oc - but we made good time. Got into camp a little after dark. We made 18 miles. Captured 6 or 8 rebs.
Wednesday, October 19, 1864
Weather fine. Troops commenced mooving about 7 Oc. Our train\par started at 8. Dident go but a little wais in the forenoon but lit out in the afternoon. Distance 16 miles. Dident get into camp untill after dark. Boys had a good deal of forage.
Thursday, October 20, 1864
Weather old gay. Roads pretty dusty. Made 9 miles this forenoon. Stoped for grub. I got a big kettle off from the wagon & 4 or 5 of us cooked it full of sweet potatoes. Had a gay old feast but trains all got ahead & we had to go on double quick to ketch up. Went 5 miles in lefs that 1 1/2 hours - making in\par all 14 miles.
Friday, October 21, 1864
Weather clear with a cool raw wind. Laid in camp all day. We are at a little place called Gayleysville. It lais on the river Chatooga. Day before yesterday we went through a small town by the name Summerville. We have sweet potatoes till one cant rest. Put a gard on so no one but our Reg could dig.
Saturday, October 22, 1864
Weather cloudy & vary windy. I am on duty. Got 16 rebs, 1Captain & a lieutenant. I have been over to the 105. Saw a good meny of the boys I knew. Pre (Preserved?) is at the hospital yet. The rebs hung 2 of our men. They wer found before they got cold. They are getting a little rough. Wrote a letter home to my folks.
Sunday, October 23, 1864
Weather pleasent but a little cool. Laid around camp most all day. Wrote a letter to Mary but cant send it today.
Monday, October 24, 1864
Weather clear & quite warm. We got a mail last night. I got but 5 - 2 from home, one from Florence, one from Luke & one from Mary. Henry Puffer voted for old Abe & the NY state & counry ticket. I was witnefs. Our Capn swore to the Oidentity of myself & Puffer & made out the list.
Tuesday, October 25, 1864
Weather clear & pleasent. Had revalee at 6 - marched at 9. Went to Ceader Bluff without stopping once. Distance 6 m. Went to work & put up our tent in stile - got boards & built a frame. Hinkley got back from Rome.
Wednesday, October 26, 1864
Weather cloudy - sprinkled a little once or twice. 3d Div went out on a Reconoissance across the Cooca River. They found no opposition but a Vidtle post - great deal of forage was fetched in. Our Co. got a nice 2 year old hieffer & killed it. Hogs & potatoes a plenty.
Thursday, October 27, 1864
Weather cloudy rained last night & some when we wer getting breakfast. Washed a shirt. Been over to see William Churchill. He has got the rheumactics.
Friday, October 28, 1864
Weather pleasent. We had marching orders at noon - started at 2. Marched 8 miles. Roads bad. Encamped in a big fine woods.
Saturday, October 29, 1864
Weather clear & pleasent. Had revalee at 4 - started about 7. March 20 miles. Roads not over good. We have some prisoners. One man has his wife along. She rides in the ambulance. Came by her parents resadence - her sister made a great ado. I think she has voice enough to command a brigade. encamped at Cave Springs.
Sunday, October 30, 1864
Weather clear & pleasent. Had breakfast before daylight. Started at 7 1/2 - marched 17 miles. Encamped on our old camp ground at Rome. I am on gard. Went on at 8 last night. We had 18 prisoners - turned them over at Rome. Our Band has come up.
Monday, October 31, 1864
Weather splendid. Had revalee & grub before light - left at 8. Marched a little over 23 miles. Some tiard boys tonight. I have been a great deal tiarder than I am tonight. We encamped at Calhoon Station.
Tuesday, November 1, 1864
Weather cloudy. Had breakfast before day brake - left at 7 1/2. Marched through to Resaca - distance 7 miles. Got in before noon. Laid around all day expecting to git on the cars. Tonight we found that we had to march to Chattanooga. The troops are most all going by rale. We have to gard the Generals trains.
Wednesday, November 2, 1864
Weather rainey. Rained some last night & all day today. Wood vary scarce. Had orders to take our tents down. Had them down all day but dident moove. Pitched our tents for the night. I baught 4 pounds of desicated potatoes.
Thursday, November 3, 1864
Weather rainey. Had revalee at 4 - marched at 8 1/2. Marched through Dalton & most to Tunnel Hill - distance 27 m. Stoped in an old rebel camp. Rained all the time. Had to wait before we could put up our tents - our napsacks being on the wagon. Weather cold. Kept a fiar all night. Stoped for the night at 4.
Friday, November 4, 1864
Weather cloudy & rained considerable. Had breakfast before or by light. Started a little after sunrise. Went vary fast - stoping only for dinner. Went through Tunnel Hill. Stoped to camp at 4. Marched 25 miles. We have been marching with some cavelry - left them behind this afternoon. They say we beat the devil on foot.
Saturday, November 5, 1864
Weather cloudy with a little rain. Got started at our usual time. Arrived 1 1/2 mi from Chattanooga where we encamped about 10 Oclock. Distance 8 miles. We are encamped in Lookout Valley. Mud vary deep & wood scarce. Have to burn brush or nothing.
Sunday, November 6, 1864
Weather vary rainey. We have been drawing cloths. Got artillery jacket & boots. One can get eny thing he wants but shirts. I received a full suit jacket, boots & pants - socks - knapsack & haversack
Monday, November 7, 1864
Weather rainey. We are laying mud up to our knees. Cant get out dores without being covered with mud & wet with rain. Wrote a letter to Mary.
Tuesday, November 8, 1864
Weather rainey. I washed a shirt & voted for old Abe. Our reg all went for him but 3 out of Co. C. The election was all one could hope for - tickets was plenty of both party. A great meny outsiders came to our poles to vote. Wrote 2 letters. One home & one to Luke.
Wednesday, November 9, 1864\par Weather cloudy with a little rain. Drawed rations for 2 days.
Thursday, November 10, 1864
Weather clear & sun shines once. We have mooved camp. Our camp is almost within a stones throw of town. It is a pretty good camp but no wood.
Friday, November 11, 1864
Weather fine but cold nights. One wants all the cloth he can roll under. Got a mail but none for me. Wrote a letter home. The corps baggage is going pretty fast. We expect to go every day. Got 5 lbs of desicated potatoes.
Saturday, November 12, 1864
Weather pleasant. Got a pass & went down town. Not mutch but suttler shops & government buisnefs going on. I wrote a letter to Miss Mary E. Churchill. Steb Ealey, & James Kiealey came back to the Co. both look healthy & stout. I am on gard.
Sunday, November 13, 1864
Weather pleasent. I went around to some of the 1st Ohio Battery to find some of my old friends. Found one or 2 that I had seen before but no one that I ever was intimately acquainted with. 2 or 3 Niggers was killed last night & 2 or 3 wounded. They had a fight with white soldiers - wounded 2 or 3 of them. Today they was picking up every niggar they can find.
Monday, November 14, 1864
Weather pleasant. Drawed 2 days wormy crackers. We havent drawed but 2 days good crackers in 10. They are vary bad. I cant eat the last - they are so bad. They are scented with coal oil.
Tuesday, November 15, 1864
Weather rainey. Rained some last night or earley this morning. I was to the Minstrals last night. The performance was vary good. Houce full as could be but rather noisey. Got 2 pounds of desicated potatoes & 2 of onions.
Wednesday, November 16, 1864
Weather cloudy with some rain. Had orders to get on the cars at 7 in the morning. Got on around 9 & laid around untill dark & was all night making 28 mi. They had a smoke(?) up ahead of us & track tore up.
Thursday, November 17, 1864
Weather quite pleasent. Rode all day & got to Nashville at 9 Oc. I saw Hort Falk. He is in the 177 Ohio. Came through some good country & a good deal of hilley. Came through a tunnel over a mile long. Got lots of apples at 20 & 25 a dozen. Pretty small but good. Distance from Chattanooga to Nashville - 157 mi. Ther car our Co was on run off the track. No one was hurt but those that jumped.
Friday, November 18, 1864
Weather rainey - rained all day. Left Nashville about 9 - arrived at Palaski about 9 at night. Laid on the cars all night. The section of the train ahead had a smashup & detained us. Distance - 75 mi. Laid on cars all night. We was so thick that my blanket covered 8. Had a gay time. Dident go to sleep untill 12 - nor let no one els.
Saturday, November 19, 1864
Weather rainey. Got off the cars about 10. Went into a mud camp & tore down the 4 AC Stickums to put up our tents & burn. They put Cap Tommas under arrest for letting us get them. I got a had & shirt & 3 let - one from Mary, one from home & one from Sam Shattuck.
Sunday, November 20, 1864
Weather cloudy & mist some through the day. I have been over to Bat G 1st Ohio. Saw lots of the boys I knew. Lieut Mitchel, 2 of the Slocon boys, John Parmiley, Frank Parmiley & lot of more Chardon boys. They lay clost by & have got good winter quarters.
Monday, November 21, 1864
Weather blustering & snow all day. I with 4 more of our Co. was detailed for commissary gard. There is about 65 of us. Co K is all here - are in a vary muddy place - no wood - only what we steal. The Boys hooted us for having to turn out & stake down our houses on sutch a stormy day but we are fixed better than we was before. Got a letter from Mary.
Tuesday, November 22, 1864
Weather windy & cold - it froze so hard last night that a loaded wagon dont break through. I froze out about 3 Oclock last night - couldent stand it eny longer. I got a letter from Susan. We go orders to move down to the depot tonight. The Commissary is a going to leave by rail. I think the town will be evacuated.
Wednesday, November 23, 1864
Weather cold & dreary - froze all day. It took all night & untill 11 in the forenoon to get loaded. The 90 OVI was down loading. They stole 3 barrels of whiskey from the 9 KY & all or most all got tite. They stole some a good meny barrels of sugar was open when they was braught here & they most all had a sweet tooth. We arrived at Columbia about 4 - distance 35 miles.
Thursday, November 24, 1864
Weather a little more mild - thawed out considerable. Laid on the train all day. Reg got in about 7 1/2. They have been doing some pretty fast going this morning. They started at 4 & marched 17 mi. They wer pretty footsore. The pikes are vary bad to march on. I wish I could get a chance to write. Some of the Boys got left yesterday - just some.
Friday, November 25, 1864
Weather clear & not vary cold. Laid around on the train untill about noon. Then some of the train was unloaded. I put up my tent. Went down town - there is some splended looking women here. They are pretty scart. Considerable skirmachers going on & some artillery fiaring but not meny hurt. I havent seen one yet. Drawed rations. Got a letter from home.
Saturday, November 26, 1864
Weather rainey. Last night about 9 they routed us out to get on the train. I was ordered with 2 others into a car where there was 4 ladies, 3 gents & 4 niggers beside a load of corned beef. Couldent lay down at all. Went to Duck Crick - 3 miles from Columbia. Laid around. Unloaded some of the cars to get sick & wounded in. 2 cars of sanatary crout onions, potatoes & pickles. Eny one got that wanted.
Sunday, November 27, 1864
Weather rainey. I was on gard all night last night with 4 men. It was not my turn but Lieu Norton would have me and no other. It was garding the boys all (k)new that it was likely to be left & they wanted whiskey, sugar & pork. It rained all night. Laid around all day. Ishued out most all the beef & flour & meal by order of Gen Schofield. Norton let it go commissary as Nashville.
Monday, November 28, 1864
Weather cloudy - without eny rain. Laid around untill the rebs bullets began to fly. Then they lit out a mile or 2. About 3 we run back & let the skirmish line have rations & got a lot of mules shoes. We run down beyond the skirmachers with a couple of hand cars & went after 5 loads. Took 30 kegs at a load & helped carry a wounded man out to the hospital train - left about dark.
Tuesday, November 29, 1864
Weather cloudy but no rain. Last night we came down as far as Franklin. Got there about 2 Oc in the morning. We dont live eny ______ train & sanitary potatoes & onions _ whiskey a plenty for all that wants.
Wednesday, November 30, 1864
Weather warm & pleasent. Laid around on the cars all day. They switched us around some but braught us back to the same spot. Some of R. J. Smiths command came in. There was a circus in town. I dident attend. Dont hear anything from the front that can be relide on. They are pressing negroes & citazens to work on fortifications - bulley for them.
Thursday, December 1, 1864
Weather warm & pleasent. Wrote a letter to Mary. I went to the theater last night. It was pretty good. They had some gay peaces. It lasted untill after eleven. This is a great place for murders - from 1 to 5 is committed every night. Night before last there was but 5 killed. The town is full of policemen - but they cant keep them strait. This is quite a town. Last night our corps took 1200 prisoners between 4 & 7 Oclock at Franklin.
Friday, December 2, 1864
Weather warm & cloudy. Laying around on the cars yet. Our Div captured 22 battle flags at Franklin on the 3 outh. Our boys gave them fits. Colonel Jack gets the prais of every man in his brig. Gen Cox shoed himself the bravest of the brave. 1200 prisoners was taken by our corps & some regs lost vary heavy - but the ___ as usual lost but 3 killed & wounded.
Saturday, December 3, 1864
Weather pleasent & warm. The detail that was on the cars was ordered back last night. I was up town to get some photographs. They will be done next Tuesday. I got 4 letters. One from home, one from Olive Stafford, & 2 from Mary. There has beenconsiderable skirmaching & some artillery fiaring. Jake Bower came back to the company.
Sunday, December 4, 1864
Weather fine. I am on gard over rebel colars that was taken at Franklin. They are at Gen Schofields Quarters. They are vary bluddy & show the terible reality of war. There wasent a silk one amongst the pile. Some of the Reb citazens look at them with sorrowing countanances. The gard has to keep a sharp eye on all sutch.
Monday, December 5, 1864
Weather pleasent. I was relieved from gard at 10. I did not have to be up eny through the night. I was at church last night but I thought it a dry one. There is considerable booming along the line. Capt Schofield on Gen Coxes Staff said the 104 did run & one of their own boys was over here & owned the coin.
Tuesday, December 6, 1864
Weather warm but cloudy. Some shooting going on - but nothing of mutch amount. Wrote a letter to Mary & one home & went up town & got 1/2 doz photographs for 95 cts. Sent one home & one to Mary.
Wednesday, December 7, 1864
Weather cold & windy. I went out to the front. Jonnies camp in plain sight. They have got pretty good works up. Will Churchill - he was well. The 104 was vary mad at old Jack - because he said they run.
Thursday, December 8, 1864
Weather clear but a cold wind blows considerable. Cannonadering going on but I guess vary little harm done to eather party. 5 months more to serve - then our time will be out. I was at the Theatre - the play was Aladin and the Wonderful Lamp.
Friday, December 9, 1864
Weather cold - it raines, snows & freezes all together. A vary rough day & no wood to burn. I went down to see my Christian friends & wrote a letter to Alf Churchill. No fiar to get eather supper or dinner.
Saturday, December 10, 1864 Weather vary cold - it storms a little. Froze vary hard last night & continues to freeze. We put up a chimney - stole brick & wood to burn in it. Makes the shanty more comfertable.
Sunday, December 11, 1864
Weather clear but stinging cold. The wind will shave without lather. I went to meeting. It was a splendid church & they had splendid music. It was most all music they plaid & sang 8 differant peacies. Wrote a letter to Mary & received one from her.
Monday, December 12, 1864
Weather cold. Thawed a little in the forenoon but froze up before night. I stole a stick of wood so big I could hardley carry it. It will last all day & night. I have got good at picking up little things. I dont steal - not. I got a letter from home. Wrote to Mary.
Tuesday, December 13, 1864
Weather cold but a little mild than it has been of late. Been down town. Wrote a letter home. I got my boots taped on half soled - it onley cost $2.00 - cheap but cant be helped. Considerable skirmaching going on today & a little cannonadering.
Wednesday, December 14, 1864
Weather quite warm. Orders to moove but dont go. Great preparations for a big battle. Went down town. Wrote a letter to Susan Stafford - sent a letter & photo.
Thursday, December 15, 1864
Weather continues warm. Mud vary deep. Had orders to move. Struck tents in the morning. Had breakfast long before day light. Schofield went out to the front before light. One brig, 4 corps & some collard troops went out on our left & pitched in while the main force went to the right. A pretty big fight - rebs completely outflanked. Took 18 peacies of artillery & 800 or 1000 prisoners. Our lofs considerable. Rebs flank completely turned. Marched 3 mi.
Friday, December 16, 1864
Weather rainey. The fight commenced with increased fury. Our men almost drive their lines with artillery. First brig or one reg charged & took 4 peacies of artillery & never lost a man. We captured 8 peacies of artillery & about 3000 prisoners. They most all threw down their guns & run. They dident half stand after they got started. I dont think our loss as heavy as yesterday. Town is full of prisoners - dead & wounded are thick.
Saturday, December 17, 1864
Weather vary rainey & mud vary deep - vary hard mooving. Rebs lit out last night but we have got 20000 good cavelry to follow. We have been over the battle ground of yesterday & the day before. It is dreadfull to look uppon men been wounded 2 days & 2 1/2 - laying out in the mud & rain. The artillery done good execution. Meny of the rebs wer blown to peacies - some so you couldent see eny shape to them.
Sunday, December 18, 1864
Weather vary cloudy. Struck tents at about 8 & marched out & puddled through the mud. Went about 8 miles. Went into camp after dark. Our cavelry is doing good buisness picking up straglers. They have got 8 or 10 hundred in the last 2 days. I am on gard over some prisoners. Rainey just after dark.
Monday, December 19, 1864
Weather rough. Rained all day & all last night. We struck tents about 10 & went about 1/2 m. Laid around 2 or 3 hours - then pitched tents. Staid untill 3 Oc - struck tents & went 1 1/2 miles & went into camp at Franklin. The rebs burnt the railroad brig acrofs the Harpith river but they are repairing it. The mud is over shoe most of the way & part of the time nee deep.
Tuesday, December 20, 1864
Weather cloudy & commenced raining about noon & continued untill dark. It froze all the _ a little. Just enough to make our guns & cloths all ice. We left Franklin in the morning & arrived at Springhill about 1 hour after dark. Every thing all covered with ice. A good meny went to old houses & barns - but P. Spardiner stol boards & sleped in our tent.
Wednesday, December 21, 1864
Weather vary cold & snowed a little all day. Left Springhill at 9 Oc & marched 6 miles without a rest. Went into camp & built fiars - plenty of wood. They have got to lay a pontoon across a crick about 2 m ahead. The rebs was forced to burn 400 wagons this side of duck river. The pike is getting pretty badly cut up - so meny teams going over. Our corps got good teams.
Thursday, December 22, 1864
Weather cold & blustery. Laid in camp all day. Choped & burnt about 1 chord of wood. Kept a big fiar all last night. Cut a big white oak & choped it nearly all up. It froze vary hard last night & continued to freeze all day. Got some corn and had some mush. I got a letter from mother. Lon Coley was married one week ago last Sunday to Patty Stebbens.
Friday, December 23, 1864
Weather clear but cold. Thawed a little where the sun shon farest. Struck tents at 12 & marched 2 miles - turned in to camp - wood pretty handy. I went off & got some straw where the calvery staid. Last night the ground frose a great deal harder that it did night before last. Wrote a letter to Mary - but no chance to send it.
Saturday, December 24, 1864
Weather clear but cold. I got some washing done out in the country. Laid around expecting to moove. Foragers have been out but most of them come in light loaded. I guess our Christmas will be slim but not as slim as last year when I had sacafras tea.
Sunday, December 25, 1864
Weather a little moderated & cloudy. It commenced to rain about 8 Oclock. I was out this fine noon after something to eat. There was 4 of us, Orin Gates, John Silbern & Wiloughby went about 6 mile but couldent find the first thing in the shape of eatables. They wer all striped & draw rations from the government. Wrote a letter to Mary.
Monday, December 26, 1864
Weather cloudy & cold. Struck tents about 8 1/2 & mooved at 9. Came to Columbia - crossed Duck river on a pontoon. Our Co. was\par left back to see to the train. Oficers came near fighting. Co. fixed bayonets to stop the row & a battery that was trying to cross before us. Steel carried the day. Lots of boards up at an old ruined fort can make us good quarters.
Tuesday, December 27, 1864
Weather cloudy & somewhat cold. Fred & myself fixed our shanty a little - raised it. I am on gard. Not mutch going on. A mail came but none from me. I havent received a letter from Mary since the 11 th.
Wednesday, December 28, 1864
Weather cold & windy. We built a fiarplace to our shanty. It draws first rate. Had to carry the brick a good way. It took from 150 to 200. Most all the boys are fixing up. We have no ideah how long we will stay - perhaps a day & perhaps a week. The wind blows vary hard.
Thursday, December 29, 1864
Weather pretty cold - it froze solid last night. Got half a log - about 25 lbs. Some of the 177 OVI have been over to our reg but none that I know.
Friday, December 30, 1864
Weather cloudy with rain in the afternoon. Henry Puffer & I went out after forage. Went out about 4 m. Stoped at John Crosbies. They treated us like gents. He was at town after a safety gard. His wife coaxed us to stay & pretend to be gards untill he came back. He came in an hour or 2. They gave us a good dinner of rost turkey, boiled ham. biscuits, butter, tea, milk & other things to make a good meal. They wanted to give us some chickens & milk but we wouldent take what we paid for. I got a nice chicken for ______ _____.
Saturday, December 31, 1864
Weather clear, cold & windy. The rain turned into snow this morning. The ground is covered. I got a letter from Mary last night & one from home. Mother sent me a nice silk hankercheif for a present.
Sunday, January 1, 1865
Weather cold in the morning - but thawed considerable. Fred & me had rost chicken for supper. I got a letter from Lovina & a pair of socks(?) which I stood in need of vary mutch.
Monday, January 2, 1865
Pulled up stakes & marched 12 miles to Pleasent Town. Roads vary muddy. New troops straggle a good deal.
Tuesday, January 3, 1865 Got up at 8 Oc but dident start out untill 11. Marched 3 miles & went into camp. Poark a plenty.
Wednesday, January 4, 1865
Started on the march at sunrise. Marched 20 miles over vary bad roads & only saw 3 houses. Sutch a wilderness & sutch hills.
Thursday, January 5, 1865
Started a little after sunrise. Marched 25 miles. Mud vary\par deep. Rained a good share of the time. Got into camp at Wainsboro a little before 8 Oclock. All pretty tiard. I am on\par gard.
Friday, January 6, 1865
Laid in camp. I went out foragain with John Vote & Cobb. Killed 3 nice pigs. Rained most all day & snowed towards the evening.
Saturday, January 7, 1865
Left Wainsboro at 9 Oc. Marched to Clifton - distance 14 miles.
Sunday, January 8, 1865
Weather clear. Laid in camp & washed some cloths. Orders came to moove at 4. Marched to the river - distance 2 m. The town used to lay on the river bank. It was burnt in 1863. There was15 transports laying at the landing & 2 iron clad gunboats.
Monday, January 9, 1865
Laid in camp all day. Rained last night & all day today. Baught a canteen full of molassefs for 75.
Tuesday, January 10, 1865
Rained all night last night & all day. Some of the gards let 2 of the Jonnies get away. They wer out after wood - threw the axer at the gard & run.
Wednesday, January 11, 1865 Weather fine. Grub short. Puffer Maple & myself went 7 mile to mill - got a bushell of corn & had it ground. Got back at 3 Oclock hungry.
Thursday, January 12, 1865 Weather fine. Laid around camp. It freezes every night.
Friday, January 13, 1865
Weather splendid. Froze pretty hard last night. I sleped along with one blanket over me. Laid quite comfertable.
Saturday, January 14, 1865
Struck tents at 4 afternoon. Help load up the Robert Moore with the Gen & Stafs bagage. Started down the river about dark. Struck the Ohio early in the morning.
Sunday, January 15, 1865
Went down the Ohio to Caro where the Gen got off. We turned around & started up again on rout for Lewisville.
Monday, January 16, 1865 Still steaming up the river only stopping to coal up.
Tuesday, January 17, 1865
par Boat tutched land & I got off in Ind. Yesterday I was in Ill.
Wednesday, January 18, 1865
Run in at Lewisville (Louisville) just before dark. Left boat in about 2 hours. Went up to the soldiers home - got supper & quarters for the night.
Thursday, January 19, 1865
Weather awfull cold. I do believe I shall freeze. Still at the home. Have travled all over the town.
Friday, January 20, 1865
Laid in barracks. Snowed. Wrote a letter to Mary. Run all over town. Some of the boys got a job whitewashing. Went down to the boat just at dark.
Saturday, January 21, 1865
Left Louisville about 10 Oclock. Reached Cinci about 3 in the afternoon. Weather cold & boat full.
Sunday, January 22, 1865
Weather stormy. Laid on the boat all night. Left Cininatti on the cars at 10 Oclock. Arrived Columbus about 3 Oc. There we took the Ohio Central Railroad to Belair.
Monday, January 23, 1865
Reached Belair at 9 Oc in the morning & took the Baltimore & Chi(cago?). Arrived at Grafton about dark. Crossed the Aleganey Mountains in the night. Some vary steep rough roads. Some of the time the cars stood almost on end.
Tuesday, January 24, 1865
Weather vary cold. Run along the mountains foot at daylight. Arived at Cumberland Meriland (Maryland) about 7 1/2 Oc. Gen got breakfast & we got coffe. Yesterday we tutched Pencilvaney (Pennsylvania).
Wednesday, January 25, 1865
Arrived at Harpers Ferry about 4 Oc - 80 miles from Washington. Vary cold.
Thursday, January 26, 1865
Arrived at Washington 2 AM. Went to baracks No. 2. One stove for the left wing. Baracks vary open & cold. Got a pafs & went all over the Capitol - Pattent Ofice & down to the White Houce. The Capitol is splendid - so is the White Houce but to see sights one wants to go to the Pattent Ofice.
Friday, January 27, 1865 Had a pass & went all over town. Weather vary cold. Went down to the Navy Yard. Wrote a letter home yesterday & one to Mary the day before. Was up in the Senate to hear the speak - also in the Represenatives Hall.
Saturday, January 28, 1865
Weather the coldest I have seen for 3 years. Onley one small stove to 2 hundred men. Our board is on the poor list.
Sunday, January 29, 1865
Weather cold. I went to meeting in the forenoon. Hard work to get enything to eat. Some dident get but one meal in all day - there was so meny to feed.
Monday, January 30, 1865
Weather cold but pleasent. I was up to the Capitol last night to the 3rd(?) anulal meeting of the Christian Commission. There was a vary great croud. There wasent room for more that half to sit. There was some of the most talented men of our nation. The Hon William Seward - Secretary of State in the chair. Music by Washington band. Old Abe. Admiral Paragat. Gen Mead. Hancok. Gen C. B. Fisk & other lesser fish. It was midnight before they agurned.
Tuesday, January 31, 1865
Weather a little moderated. I was at the theater last night - was vary good. Got a letter from home, one from Mary & a pair of socks. Also a letter written to the first corporal of Co. E 103rd OVI.
Wednesday, February 1, 1865
Laid around town most all day. Went to the theater at night.
Thursday, February 2, 1865
Weather pleasent & thawed some during the middle of the day. Got orders to moove at 4 tomorrow morning.
Friday, February 3, 1865
Weather cold. Got breakfast at 4 Oclock. Mooved through town at 10. Marched to Alenxdria (Alexandria?) - distance 7 miles. Went to a soldiers rest & it was a splendid one & clene.
Saturday, February 4, 1865
Went down to the river & got aboard ship just at dark.
Sunday, February 5, 1865
Started early for salt water. Ice in the river thick & a good deal of the way solid - but the old Champion of NY rushed through not having to back up - but sometimes the ice was 8 to 12 inches thick. Reach the Chesapeek bay just before dark.
Monday, February 6, 1865
Weather cold. This morning we are on the Atlantic. Passed fortris Monroe about 2 OC last night when we came around Cape Hatteras. It was pretty rough. A good meny men wer sick.
Tuesday, February 7, 1865
Weather cold & a little rough. Cast anker at Ft Fisher at the mouth of Cape Fear river about 2 OC in the afternoon.
Wednesday, February 8, 1865
Weather pretty cold. Laid at anchor all day. Some of the troops that was on small boats run in & unloaded but ours drawed about 16 feet of water. It draws 20 when loaded properley. It is the darndest old tub to roll on the water.
Thursday, February 9, 1865
Landed at noon marched out about _? miles & encamped. Went after wood in an old swamp - water nee deep & mud no end to the depth. Saw the Armstrong gun presented to the davie by England. It has a mahogany carage & a most splendid finish. It isent hurt in the\par least Ft Fisher is a strong fort.
Friday, February 10, 1865
Laid in camp - washed some cloths. Oisters are a plenty. All one has to do is to go out & pick them up. I have had my fill of rosted, boiled & raw. They are splendid.
Saturday, February 11, 1865
Laid in camp & done nothing but get wood - eat.
Sunday, February 12, 1865
Weather cold & windy. Had a little fight & gobbled in 60 or 70 of them. Not meny hurt. Went a fishing - ketched a lot.
Monday, February 13, 1865
Weather cold & disagreeable. Went over to the 177 OVI. I saw Ros Wooden & Falk. All well & tuff.
Tuesday, February 14, 1865
Weather cold. The boys went fishing last night & caught a fine mess. Wrote a letter home. Went down on the beach.
Wednesday, February 15, 1865
Weather cold & windy. Went down to the river & caught a mess of fish. Went over to the 177.
Thursday, February 16, 1865
Weather vary windy. Struck tents at 2 OC & mooved down to the landing. Distance 3 1/2 miles & stacked arms.
Friday, February 17, 1865
Weather windy. Laid on the beach all night. Liked to have been covered up in sand. Took boat just before dark & went to Smithville - distance 7.
Saturday, February 18, 1865
Weather pleasent. Shifted our tents in shape. Heavy canonadering about Ft Anderson. Troops all here but a few.
Sunday, February 19, 1865
Weather pleasent. 100 men detailed for fateag (fatigue). 13 men & myself from our Co unloaded a boat load of hay. Hinkley left - was detailed with 2 more.
Monday, February 20, 1865
Weather fine. Heavy detail again today. Wrote a letter to Mary.
Tuesday, February 21, 1865
Weather windy. Got aboard a steamer & came up to Fort Anderson. Pitched our tents. Had plenty of boards to raise our tents with. I am detailed to go on picket.
Wednesday, February 22, 1865
Weather pleasent. The reg has been carrying out ammunition all day. We are garding about 450 rebs. The magazenes are full.
Thursday, February 23, 1865
Weather cloudy. Have been carrying out powder. Boys exploded about 1/2 ton of powder to see the flash. Have dismounted all the guns & burned the carages. Have got orders to march to Wilmington - distance 20 miles. Started at 3 Oc.
Friday, February 24, 1865
Weather rainey. Yesterday we marched about 7 m. Rained all night last night & all day today. Reached Wilmington about 2 1/2 Oc - rain pounding down.
Saturday, February 25, 1865
Weather rainey. 5 of us out of Co E staid in a nice white houce. Had a good fiar place. Co E & G are ordered to town & doing gard duty at reb prison. Have about 200.
Sunday, February 26, 1865
Weather rainey but warm. Went to church & wrote a letter to Mary. We come on duty 2 hours out of 10. Not vary hard.
Monday, February 27, 1865
Weather warm & pleasent. Prisoners coming in every hour - most of them are deserters.
Tuesday, February 28, 1865
Weather rainey but warm. The prisoners had a plan for escape but I found them out. They had made a hole big enough to a small man to crall through. They had a spade & a wrench for tools.
Wednesday, March 1, 1865
Weather rainey but no mud - sand to(o) deep. Some pretty good looking girls.
Thursday, March 2, 1865
Rained a little last night. George W. Simmonds was stabeb. The knife or disk passed clear through him. He never spoke.
Friday, March 3, 1865
Weather rainey. I hear that we are a going to moove monday.
Saturday, March 4, 1865
Weather rainey. Drawed 7 days rations. Something rong - guess we will moove.
This diary has been donated to the Geauga County Ohio USGenWeb project by Mike Stafford . Copyright 2000 by Mike Stafford and Alice Allen.
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Diary of Abram Stafford -- January - June 1864
Diary of Abram Stafford -- 1863
