Raynors HCA 2015-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/19/2015
A good war-date Union soldier's diary kept by Pvt. Willoughby H. Doering, Co. C, 68th Ohio Vols. covering Doering's time in service from Nov. 25, 1861 through January 13, 1863, kept in a preprinted leather bound pocket diary for the year 1862, in which he used the memorandum pages for the 1861 and 1863 entries. During the time covered the 68th headed to the front from Camp Chase, Ohio, to helping capture Fort Donelson, besiege Corinth and Iuka, Mississippi helping protect Grant's supply base at Holly Spring, Miss., reading, in very small part: "…[Nov. 25, 1861]…Company C organized on the 25…I enlisted on the 7th day of Oct…[Dec. 25]…we had a picnic by the citizens of Florida. Our company was treated just the same as was the company from that place…[Dec. 31]…we had a court marshall of several men for the offense of immoral conduct…[Jan. 25, 1862]…the boys had a jolly time breaking through [the] guard…[Jan. 26]…McCann pulled off his stripes today…[Jan. 27]…Willis Fuller [WIA Atlanta, 7/22/64, arm amputated] appointed corporal…[Jan. 30]…was in the state prison. There were about 1000 prisoners…[Feb. 8]…the Col. told us to be ready to march at an hours notice…[Feb. 12]…we went up the Tennessee river…to Fort Henry but we No. 17 boats including gun boats…[Feb. 14]…moved up to within a half mile of the battleground…[Feb. 15, battle of Fort Donelson]…at sunrise a severe battle commenced lasted about two hours. A great many killed and wounded…another heavy battle this evening…[feb. 16]…started for the battlefield…was informed of the surrender…saw many strange things…[Feb. 18]…the regt is camped on a hill south of the town [Dover]…several of the boys have the measles…[Feb. 20]…boys think that the rations captured at this place made them sick…[Feb. 22]…three darkeys came into camp. We hired one to cook. He borrowed Peeper's rubber [blanket]. Went out to get eggs never came back…[Feb. 26]…marched out about one mile fired our guns three or four rounds…[Mar. 10]…brought to painful news of the death of George Howell [DOD St. Louis]…[Mar. 16]…we have just run down to Fort Henry…[Mar. 27]…buried 2 men, Private Co. I, one private Co. A. They were buried with honors…[Apr. 1]…hear cannonading up the Tennessee river…[Apr. 3]…got orders today to be redy…to start to a review…[Apr. 5]…this morning had a skirmish up the river…[Apr. 6]…this morning when we arose we heard the firing of infantry and soon…commended the old cannon…[Apr. 7]…last night a continual firing was kept up by our gun boats…this morning the battle commenced as vigorously as the day before. It is near 10 p. m. and they are still fighting…[Apr. 8]…the firing has ceased…lieut. col. came in camp…reporting the enemy in full retreat…[Apr. 11]…heard of the surrender of island No. 10…[Apr. 12]…heard cannonading up the R…it was done to salute the arrival of Gen. Halleck…[Apr. 23]…our pickets had a small skirmish with the Rebel cavalry this morning…[[May 3]…we were got into line of battle…[May 4]…we started on the march towards Corrinth…[May 11]…heavy cannonading this morning…[May 22]…grand review at Gen. Wallish head quarters. 11th Ind the best drilled regt…[May 28]…a man hurt by firing off old musket which lay on the ground for some time…[May]…found Corinth evacuated this morning…[May 31]…soldiers uneasy on account of the rebels having left Corrinth…[June 16]…had stripes put on my coat sleeves. Wm. Anderson was put in guard house for wearing drawers…[June 23]…two cavalry men shot by secesh citizens. Cavalry went out…and caught four of the chaps…[July 4]…raised two flagds and fired 34 rounds with cannon. Had a speech by Col. of the 53rd Ind…[July 8]…two men were wounded by cecesh cavalry…[July 13]…started after some cotton with 44 wagons got 130 bales…and 6 load of corn…[July 19]…pickets drove in. Soldiers got into line of battle in great haste…[July 23]…Co. C was taken 1/2 mile beyond the picket to lay in ambush for some guerrillas…[Aug. 14]…Segt. Nasan guarded the flo[a]ting bridge, had some trouble on account of wrong instructions…[Aug. 18]…to the death of ex-president Van Buren by the firing of cannon…all officers should wear black crepe…[Aug. 30]…a brisk skirmish took place between the Rebels and part opf the 2nd Ill. Cavalry, 9th Ind Battery…and 78 Ohio…lost 2 Cos. out of 20th O. V. I…[Sept. 1]…another skirmish at Merdan Station…loss heavy on the Rebels side…Rebels killed 117. Federals killed 9. wounded not known…[Sept. 2]…were ordered into Fort fry…one of the cannon is pointed towards the court house…[Sept. 17]…into line for another march. Destination Iuka…[Sept. 19]…on the road to Bernsville. Had a skirmish but found only five rebels. Took them prisoners…[Sept. 20]…evacuation of Iuka by the rebels…[Sept. 21]…we started back for Corinth…[Sept. Sept. 24]…some of the boys just come in…cars run off at Jackson, killed three men…[Oct. 5]…soon as we had eat our breakfast we were formed into line and moved forward. The artillery opened fire and we were rushed into battle which lasted about six hours…[Oct. 6]…still on the battlefield. I went to the river to [get] some water. Saw several of the dead crossed over the river…started for Bolivar with prisoners…[Oct. 8]…Cos. H. and C. went out to guard a battery…[Nov. 4]…the 68th is to serve as rear guard. The head of the column started out at 2 this morn. The rear left about noon. Fences and houses were destroyed by some of our troops…[Nov. 5]…we are camped near LaGrange, Tenn…[Nov. 8]…a guard has been established around the entire camp to keep the boys from straggling…[Nov. 22]…had a drill of officer's command given by bugle…[Dec. 5]…before sundown cavalry brought in Secesh…[Oct. 6]…camped near Oxford, Miss. Gen. Grant captured some rascals belonging to Secretary Thompson of Oxford, Miss. cavalry, brought in 2 or 3 hundred cecesh…the rascals belonging to Thompson revealed some secrets…[Dec. 8]…Gen. Grant said the cecesh had made two proposals for peace…[Dec. 13]…Jacob Buse was arrested for stealing Pew's gun stopper…[Dec. 30]…was called into line on account of the appearance of 5 or 6 mounted cavalry…[Jan. 2, 1863]…two men were detailed from Co. C to serve as mounted infantry…I made a bet with Wm. Crawfrod that the war would not be closed by the 15th day of February…[Jan. 5]…marched all afternoon. Got to Holly Springs at 10…[Jan. 10]…marched for Moscow on the RR. Very muddy and slippery, some stumbled and others fell…[Jan. 12]….heard the enemy's guns fired at Memphis distance of 30 miles…[Jan. 13]…Roscrans train had been captured by rebel cavalry…". Overall expected wear and soiling, else VG
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