Raynor HCA 2014-01
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/30/2014
A great 1863 and 1864 Union cavalryman's diary kept by an unidentified member of the 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry. Begun in October 1863, in accordance with the diary's correct dates, our author then simply substituted the January through September 1864 entries by modifying the diary's original 1863 dates. He then used the memorandum pages for his October and November 1864 entries. Begun while his regiment operated against Confederate General James Longstreet's men outside of Knoxville, Tennessee in late 1863 the diary ends abruptly on Nov. 21, 1864 while his unit marched into history during Sherman's epic March to the Sea. Some of the content, reads, in very small part: "…[Oct. 1]…command left for Anderson X roads…[Oct. 6]…rail road communications cut off between Stevenson and Murphreesboro near Wartrace…[Oct. 21]…moved in to camp at Winchester at Rosy's Old Hd. Qrs. fine place wagons not up yet…[Nov. 22]…marched to Alexandria. Camped in town…[Nov. 27]…hold ourselves in readiness to march…marched to Smithville…[Nov. 28]…marched to the ferry at Coney Fork…bushwhackers on the other side…[Nov. 30]…eight men drowned last night…[Dec. 2]…crossed river and marched to a camp about 5 miles from river. Found one of the drowned men…[Dec. 3]…camped about 11 miles from Sparta…[Dec. 6]…Lieut. went out on scout…[Dec. 15]…marched 20 miles to Campbell's station…had a pretty sharp fight. 9th Corps and Longstreet…[Dec. 17]…this is Armstrong's Ferry 1st Brigade crossed ferry, 2nd Brigade Hd. Qrs. Marched up river on right flank. Very rough and broken country…[Dec. 20]…moved camp under fort…RR bridge away, cars came in today…[Dec. 25]…Willich's brigade crossed the river…[Dec. 26]…heard Lt. [Theopholis] Mountz was killed [battle of Danbridge, Tenn.]. Smith and Firty wounded…[Dec. 27]…saw Smith wounded in left side…[Dec. 28]…skirmishing in front…[Dec. 31]…hard fight yesterday…[Jan. 3]…saw Genls. Grant, Parker, Hurlburt and several other brig[adiers]…[Jan. 7]…went to Mossy Creek…enlisted for veteran service…[Jan. 4]…Capt. E.[lisha] A. Hancock [WIA Averysboro, N. C., March 16, 65] left for Pa. Says Regt is reenlisting…[Jan. 14]…marched to Danbridge…some few rebs in thorn driven out by our advance…[Jan. 16]…in camp skirmishing about 9 a. m. began fighting pretties sharp towards noon…had heavy cannonading towards middle afternoon. Rebs in heavy force. Some 2 or three killed in Regt…[Jan. 17]…fight the Reb infantry…[Jan. 19]…went to Knoxville…[Jan. 21]…saw few Rebs. Fighting all day at Plains…[Jan. 22]…the 15th Penn. [Cav.] captured 72 men and 21 wagons…[Jan. 22]…went with Col. [Edward] McCook to Fair Fields…[Feb. 11]…pickets [?] on last night. Rebs in sight all day…[Feb. 26]…went to London with Capt. Wilson…[March 1]…sleep in citizens house on floor…[Mar. 2]…passed up train at Cleveland [Tenn.] Got to Chattanooga…stayed with provost guard at Genl. Elliot's Hd. Qrs…[Mar. 3]…going back to Knoxville…don't like the town much…[Apr. 8]…orders came for Regt to report at [?] 2nd Mich goes along…[Apr. 13]…reconnaisance in force…saw few rebs…[Apr. 16]…sent Bowman two battle flags…[Apr. 20]…49th & 15 Ohio regiments left camp and went 7 miles down R. Road…party of women out and run across 27 rebs. Fired a little…[Apr. 23]…seen the elephant of Cleveland…[May 3]…started for Chattanooga in the afternoon with Genl. Williamson…[May 10]…fighting in front. About 400 wounded came in…LaGrange reported taken prisoner…[May 14]…1 Batty was capt'd at Buzzard's Roost and a brigade of Rebs by charging the 1st line of works on entering Dalton…[June 4]…bridge broke down last night with train. All cars laying in creek…[June 22]…380 prisoners went up today. Bailey in from Big Shanty…[June 23]…trains running through to Chattanooga…some rascal stole my hat out of the window…[July 7]…thirteen car loads of prisoners went down this morning…[July 23]…Genl. McPherson's body went up today in same car with Genl. Grishom wounded. 400 Reb prisoners on same train…[July 24]…Rebs reported coming in. Troops in line of battle…[July 25]…very heavy firing in front. Not got to Atlanta yet…[Aug. 15]…Rebs in Dalton. Road tore up about Calhoun. 10th Ky. Infty captured…[Sept. 8]…Sherman came to our Head Qrs by order Genl. Elliot…[Sept. 15]…big Negro dance tonight…[Sept. 16]…last night was over at the dance. Gay time Darks had. Some one tried to make them sneeze. Threw pepper on the floor. Shouted their teeth nearly out singing…[Sept. 21]…Rebs reported massing on our right. Loaded all our stores last night…[Sept. 22]…2nd Div. Genl. Garrard passed here today…[Sept. 28]…captain is ordered to report to Genl. Stanley comdg. of 20th Corps…[Oct. 3]…marched across the river, all the bridges washed away…4th Corps passed today…[Oct. 6]…troops moving through town all day. Johnnies will find themselves in a bad fix before long…[Oct. 11]…Lieut. Wedemeyer came to town from Atlanta. Expect an attack on the town. All soldiers ordered to lay under arms at night…[Oct. 14]…infantry in line of battle. Heard Hood's H. Qrs were in Dalton…Kilpatrick had two fights whipping the rebs both times…[Oct. 16]…started for Cartersville…on cars, got up to Big Shanty, had to go back. 7 trains at Altoona to come down…[Oct. 30]…our regiment would be here tomorrow. K.[ilpatrick] said so. Have very good quarters worth three or four girls in house. One very interesting one…[Nov. 8]…voted for Old Abe…[Nov. 11]…began tearing up the Rail Road above and below Marietta…[Nov. 12]…burned some 6 or 8 houses toady…fire all over town [Atlanta?] Looks pretty hard…[Nov. 13]…had review before leaving by Genl. Sherman…[Nov. 18]…very cool last night. Fine country we are now passing through, Plenty forage. Left camp before daylight burning a great many buildings as pass. Met 17th A. C.[orps]…[Nov. 21]…staid at Robinson all night. Had 2 chickens and turkeys for breakfast. Went out further and captured 6 mules and two horses…". Unnamed. Our man clearly served in 9th Penn. Cavalry based upon names of his comrades mentioned throughout. Worthy of further research. VG to near fine.
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