Unknown [Diary of an unknown officer, 54th United States Colored Troops]
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC06270 Author/Creator: Unknown Place Written: s.l. Type: Diary Date: 17 December 1864- 31 January 1865 Pagination: 19 p. ; 11.5 x 7.3 cm. Order a Copy
An unknown soldier writes from various encampments and locations, including Fort Smith, Arkansas. Contains entries discussing various aspects of the Civil War, fellow soldiers, weather, and location. States that on 20 December 1864, Samuel Perkins of Company F died of pleurisy. An entry for 25 December 1864 states, "Christmas sets in rainy. We cannot see a very merry Christmas today. Cannot get over the river today as the rations would be spoiled ... " A 29 December 1864 entry reports on the activities of Generals George Henry Thomas and William Tecumseh Sherman, stating "Heard of the good success of Gen. Thomas in Tenn & of Gen Sherman in Ga- 'Three cheers for the red, white & blue' ... " Written in pencil. An inscription on the inner front cover states "Exchanged pulpits." The beginning of this diary includes daily entries, followed by nine blank pages. Final pages contain account entries, including the balance of a mess account.
[Draft] [ Excerpts:]
[20 Dec 1864:] Sent smallpox patients to Surg in Chief Dist South Kansas - Train of Gov't & Sutler wagons large - snow. very cold. Issuing clothing.
[26 Dec 1864:] Last night the 6th Kansas Jayhawkers attacked the Sutler train & drove them off. about one hundred shots in all fired. Visited Mr John Scott Sutler sick by...malarial fever
[27 Dec 1864:] The Kansas soldiers made a de[s]cent last night & to-day upon the Sutlers. They are wholly without discipline - & one worthless & worse than useless to the Service. The 6th and 14th are mostly of that class
[28 Dec 1864:] ...passed cabin creek stockade & saw some of 6-pounder shell used by [illegible] Rebel guns in Sept. ten Hay-Ricks burnt there.
[01 Jan 1865:] Rumor of evacuating Ft. Smith. Hope it is true & believe it so...Had the pleasure of driving [dining?] to-day with Dr. D.D. Hitchcock asst. Surgeon 2d Indian Home Guards...We commence the journey of the New Year on Sunday & with an almost new moon in the National Great Epoch.
[03 Jan 1865:] Capt Butler & Capt Emerson started for Ft Smith this morning
[16 Jan 1865:] Sent the Invalids of the regt to Little Rock by boat...
[20 Jan 1865:] Southeast of Roseville a deserted village...camped on the ground of which the rebels occupied when firing on the steamers Annie Jacobs and Chippewa Burnt the latter...
[22 Jan 1865:] Our 20th burned the house of a bushwacker named Carpenter - Killed Joe Wisdom & a man named Irvin & his two sons
[26 Jan 1865:] 11th U.S.I. (Colored) here, met the officers.
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