Raynor HCA 2014-04
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/1/2014
A good war-date Civil War 1864 diary that is well worn and is lacking its original covers which was used by both a Union and Confederate soldier. Both owners of this diary are unnamed. The Union soldier chronicles his combat experiences at the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, his wounding and maneuvering outside of Washington during Jubal Early's raid on Washington including the hanging of a spy from the 65th New York until finally loosing the diary during the opening of Philip Sheridan's Valley campaign in August 1864. The Confederate soldier is no doubt a combat veteran and his entries begin the very next day immediately following the last Union entry. All of his entries are action packed and begin with Jubal Early driving the Union army before him on August 18, 1864. He details activity during Early's push to drive the Union army out of the Valley and conclude with the epic battle of Opequon or Third Winchester. The his entries the Union soldier was a private in the First New Jersey Brigade and was most likely a member of Co. D, 10th New Jersey Vols. better known as Olden's Legion named in honor of New Jersey Governor Charles Olden. His entries begin on Feb. 21, 1864 and as part of the Army of the Potomac's 6th Corps he chronicles the fierce fighting that took place during the opening of Grant's Overland Campaign until he was "wounded by a slug" during the bloody fighting at Spotsylvania Court House on May 8, 1864. After being wounded, he wrote about all his experiences including being removed from the front. He mentions that he was released from Jarvis Hospital, Baltimore on June 17, 1864 and during Early's advance on Washington, he mentions marching throughout Maryland and writes on July 15th that a private of the 65th New York was hung for spying. Afterwards, he is present when Confederate General Early advanced on the Union army near Winchester and he either looses the diary or is captured. Either way his last entry occurs on August 17, 1864, it reads, in part: "…started for Winchester and arrived at 7 o'clock in the morning within a mile of Winchester, burned down New Town…". The next day a rebel soldier begins his entries reading, in small part: "…transferred to a Rebel. We lay all day at Winchester. Rained in the morning after giving the Yanks a good chasing. We chased them with our skirmish line & captured upwards of 500 Yanks…[Aug. 21]…we marched…to Charlestown by way of Smithfield…we found the Yankeys strongly entrenched in double line…we skirmished with them all day…they are falling back…to harpers Ferry…[Aug. 25]…our regiment was deployed as skirmishers…our division moved to the right & had a desperate fight with the Yankey cavalry on the Harpers Ferry road near Shepardstown…[Sept. 2]…we moved out of camp at Bunker Hill across the country towards Charlestown…[Sept. 3]…lay in line of battle all day…[Sept. 7]…we have been on picquet today…the Yankey cavalry came up on the Millwood road drove our cavalry in nearly to camp…our brigade chased them back to the Opequan River…[Sept. 12]…went down to Bruce Town and had a skirmish with the Yankeys…[Sept. 17]…marched down to Martinsburg and drove the Yankey cavalry…below the town…[Sept. 19]…this morning we marched from Bunker Hill up to Winchester and had a most desperate fight and the Yankeys stampeded us and drove us back to Newtown…[Sept. 22]…this morning the Yankeys turned our left flank and got in the rear of our strong position…we had another stampede and lost most of our artillery…". Heavily worn, missing its covers and the first month and half with soiling and smudges, else VG. Recently found in the Shenandoah Valley. Only the second combination Union/Confederate diary this cataloger has had the opportunity of cataloging in thirty-five years of handling Civil War manuscript!
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