1865 CIVIL WAR UNION SOLDIER ' S DIARY 128th Regt York Vols W/ Battles Lincoln
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1865 CIVIL WAR UNION SOLDIER'S DIARYwritten byLieutenant J. Armstrongwho served inCompany D, 128th RegimentNew York State Infantry Volunteersfrom his service betweenMarch 29, 1865 to May 19, 1865detailing steamship and train travels from Albany to Campaign of the Carolinas, participating in many battles, describing news of Lincoln's Assassination, witnessing Johnston's surrender to Sherman and mustering out as a survivor
14 pages of small script handwriting details the so...ldier's movements(opens with "a short but eventful diary" so it might have been written as a post-war recount while his memory was fresh. It is too clean to have been written during combat.)
Movements:Rochester, with trains to New York (soldier's hometown) to Albany, Hyde Park, Annapolis, Washington D.C., followed by a steamer to Savannah, Ashland, Ladys Island, Roanoke Island, New Bern, Goldsboro, Smithfield, Augusta
Names Mentioned:Stephen S. Barnes, Mark D. Wilber, Hannah Cammack, Mary Bierbauer, Mr. Rodgers, S.C. Doly, Miss Martha Briggs, Dave Frost, Gertrude Van Buren, amongst others
Excerpts:' took a train to Washington DC for pay of $7.43 '
" April 15 - Came down to breakfast & all the papers have it in Black and was horrified and exasperated beyond description to learn that the President had been assassinated. The people had just been celebrating a great victory by firing 200 guns and all retired Friday night - with the happy thought that the murderous rebellion was substantially crushed. Then news of Lincoln's assassination fell upon them like a thunderbolt ... "
"May Booth and all his friends as well as the friends of the Confederacy here, in England and elsewhere be swept from the face of the earth forever. "
" Took the Steamer Ashland to coast of North Carolina, 30 miles from the Hatteras ..." (describes a great storm at the ocean and then reflects) "But to think that I had passed through so many battles and almost outlived the war only to close my inglorious career by drowning in the sea. "
' The Ashland had on board a lady coming alone to Golsboro NC, besides 22 officers and 500 men ... arriving at Ladys Island (SC) for a boat to Roanoke Island (SC) then a train to New Bern (NC) and a train to Goldsboro (NC) '
" Unfortunate men had been stoned to death by our chivalrous southern brethren "
" Received orders to be ready to move. Took the RR to Smithfield, a station on the Central RR about 30 miles from Raliegh ... part of the Regt remained at the Dif and the remainder at a long bridge on the Neuse River. Johnston surrendered to Sherman. "
" The RR train back to Goldsboro ran off the track just at the depot ... "
" Finally reached Augusta on the morning of the 17th "
" May 19th - Moved into a Confederate cotton house to remain until the expiration of our time of service. "
Much, much more interesting reading!
- Provenance -This diary is new to the market with this eBay listing, directly from the La Grange, Chicago estate of a late, prominent medical doctor. It was archived in clean storage with many other Civil War, World War I and historical relics being offered from this storefront this month.
History of the 128th Infantry Regiment Civil War National Volunteers:
Commanded by Cols., David S. Cowles, James Smith, James P. Foster; Lieut-Cols., James Smith, James P. Foster, Francis S. Keese; Majs., James P. Foster, Edward Gifford, Francis S. Keese, George M. Van Slyck, Robert F. Wilkinson.
This regiment, recruited in the counties of Columbia and Dutchess, rendezvoused at Hudson, and was there mustered into the U. S. service for three years, Sept. 4, 1862. The following day it left for Baltimore, whence it sailed for New Orleans a few weeks later. In Jan., 1863, it was assigned to Sherman's division, 19th corps, and was complimented by Gen. Sherman for the success of its first achievement—the capture of a large quantity of property at Gainesville in April. The regiment took a gallant and conspicuous part in the long siege of Port Hudson, fighting desperately during the assaults of May 27 and June 14. The splendid service rendered by the 128th is well attested by its casualties during the siege, which amounted to 22 killed, 100 wounded and 6 missing, a total of 128. Col. Cowles fell while gallantly leading his regiment during the assault of May 27, the command suffering its heaviest losses on this occasion. After the fall of Port Hudson, the regiment was ordered to Baton Rouge, where it arrived on the 22nd after a fatiguing march, and the next 9 months were chiefly spent in post and garrison duty, with occasional reconnoissances and minor expeditions. On March 15, 1864, in the 3d brigade, 2nd (Grover's) division, 19th corps, it started on Banks' ill-fated Red River expedition. During the battle of Cane river crossing, the 128th was the first to cross the river and plant a flag upon the hill. It also made a brilliant charge driving the enemy and taking many prisoners, its loss being 10 killed and wounded. It was also present at Alexandria and Mansura. In July it proceeded with the division to New Orleans, whence it sailed under sealed orders for Washington. On its arrival it was ordered into Maryland to confront Early's invasion and took part in the subsequent famous campaign under Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley. At the battle of the .Opequan the regiment lost 57 killed, wounded and missing, Maj. Keese and 4 other officers being among the wounded. At Fisher's hill its loss was 20 killed, wounded and missing, and the regiment was handsomely complimented by Gen. Emory for its services. At the battle of Cedar creek it lost 95 killed, wounded and missing. During the next two months it was engaged in garrison duty at Winchester and New Berne, and was ordered to Savannah with its division in Jan., 1865. In March it was ordered to North Carolina, where it was temporarily attached to the 3d brigade, 1st division, l0th corps, participating in the campaign of the Carolinas until Johnston's surrender in April. It returned to Savannah in May and was mustered out in Augusta, Ga., July 12, 1865.
The regiment returned home with only 400 men of the original 960 and 173 recruits. It lost during service 2 officers and 61 men killed and mortally wounded; 3 officers and 203 men died of disease and other causes; total deaths, 269, of whom 41 died in the hands of the enemy.
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14 pages of small script handwriting details the so...ldier's movements(opens with "a short but eventful diary" so it might have been written as a post-war recount while his memory was fresh. It is too clean to have been written during combat.)
Movements:Rochester, with trains to New York (soldier's hometown) to Albany, Hyde Park, Annapolis, Washington D.C., followed by a steamer to Savannah, Ashland, Ladys Island, Roanoke Island, New Bern, Goldsboro, Smithfield, Augusta
Names Mentioned:Stephen S. Barnes, Mark D. Wilber, Hannah Cammack, Mary Bierbauer, Mr. Rodgers, S.C. Doly, Miss Martha Briggs, Dave Frost, Gertrude Van Buren, amongst others
Excerpts:' took a train to Washington DC for pay of $7.43 '
" April 15 - Came down to breakfast & all the papers have it in Black and was horrified and exasperated beyond description to learn that the President had been assassinated. The people had just been celebrating a great victory by firing 200 guns and all retired Friday night - with the happy thought that the murderous rebellion was substantially crushed. Then news of Lincoln's assassination fell upon them like a thunderbolt ... "
"May Booth and all his friends as well as the friends of the Confederacy here, in England and elsewhere be swept from the face of the earth forever. "
" Took the Steamer Ashland to coast of North Carolina, 30 miles from the Hatteras ..." (describes a great storm at the ocean and then reflects) "But to think that I had passed through so many battles and almost outlived the war only to close my inglorious career by drowning in the sea. "
' The Ashland had on board a lady coming alone to Golsboro NC, besides 22 officers and 500 men ... arriving at Ladys Island (SC) for a boat to Roanoke Island (SC) then a train to New Bern (NC) and a train to Goldsboro (NC) '
" Unfortunate men had been stoned to death by our chivalrous southern brethren "
" Received orders to be ready to move. Took the RR to Smithfield, a station on the Central RR about 30 miles from Raliegh ... part of the Regt remained at the Dif and the remainder at a long bridge on the Neuse River. Johnston surrendered to Sherman. "
" The RR train back to Goldsboro ran off the track just at the depot ... "
" Finally reached Augusta on the morning of the 17th "
" May 19th - Moved into a Confederate cotton house to remain until the expiration of our time of service. "
Much, much more interesting reading!
- Provenance -This diary is new to the market with this eBay listing, directly from the La Grange, Chicago estate of a late, prominent medical doctor. It was archived in clean storage with many other Civil War, World War I and historical relics being offered from this storefront this month.
History of the 128th Infantry Regiment Civil War National Volunteers:
Commanded by Cols., David S. Cowles, James Smith, James P. Foster; Lieut-Cols., James Smith, James P. Foster, Francis S. Keese; Majs., James P. Foster, Edward Gifford, Francis S. Keese, George M. Van Slyck, Robert F. Wilkinson.
This regiment, recruited in the counties of Columbia and Dutchess, rendezvoused at Hudson, and was there mustered into the U. S. service for three years, Sept. 4, 1862. The following day it left for Baltimore, whence it sailed for New Orleans a few weeks later. In Jan., 1863, it was assigned to Sherman's division, 19th corps, and was complimented by Gen. Sherman for the success of its first achievement—the capture of a large quantity of property at Gainesville in April. The regiment took a gallant and conspicuous part in the long siege of Port Hudson, fighting desperately during the assaults of May 27 and June 14. The splendid service rendered by the 128th is well attested by its casualties during the siege, which amounted to 22 killed, 100 wounded and 6 missing, a total of 128. Col. Cowles fell while gallantly leading his regiment during the assault of May 27, the command suffering its heaviest losses on this occasion. After the fall of Port Hudson, the regiment was ordered to Baton Rouge, where it arrived on the 22nd after a fatiguing march, and the next 9 months were chiefly spent in post and garrison duty, with occasional reconnoissances and minor expeditions. On March 15, 1864, in the 3d brigade, 2nd (Grover's) division, 19th corps, it started on Banks' ill-fated Red River expedition. During the battle of Cane river crossing, the 128th was the first to cross the river and plant a flag upon the hill. It also made a brilliant charge driving the enemy and taking many prisoners, its loss being 10 killed and wounded. It was also present at Alexandria and Mansura. In July it proceeded with the division to New Orleans, whence it sailed under sealed orders for Washington. On its arrival it was ordered into Maryland to confront Early's invasion and took part in the subsequent famous campaign under Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley. At the battle of the .Opequan the regiment lost 57 killed, wounded and missing, Maj. Keese and 4 other officers being among the wounded. At Fisher's hill its loss was 20 killed, wounded and missing, and the regiment was handsomely complimented by Gen. Emory for its services. At the battle of Cedar creek it lost 95 killed, wounded and missing. During the next two months it was engaged in garrison duty at Winchester and New Berne, and was ordered to Savannah with its division in Jan., 1865. In March it was ordered to North Carolina, where it was temporarily attached to the 3d brigade, 1st division, l0th corps, participating in the campaign of the Carolinas until Johnston's surrender in April. It returned to Savannah in May and was mustered out in Augusta, Ga., July 12, 1865.
The regiment returned home with only 400 men of the original 960 and 173 recruits. It lost during service 2 officers and 61 men killed and mortally wounded; 3 officers and 203 men died of disease and other causes; total deaths, 269, of whom 41 died in the hands of the enemy.
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YES - We Allow 30-day ReturnsYES - You Have a 14-day Grace PeriodYES - We Accept PayPal and Other Forms of PaymentYES - We Combine Multiple Wins for Discounted Shipping CostsYES - We Are Required to Charge State Sales Tax to Missouri BuyersTHANK YOU for your business!
