| Summary: | This is the 41 page diary of Thomas S. Rogers who served with Company E, 26th Ohio Infantry during the Civil War. The diary covers January 1 to May 6, 1865.[page 1]
Inside Cover:
If anyone finds this book, please return to the owner: Thos. S. Rogers
Co.E, 26 Ohio Infantry
2 Brig., 2 Div 4 AB
[page 2]
Pocket Diary for 1865
Containing A Blank Space for Every Day in the Year
Calendar
Rates of Postage
Published Annually
For the Trade, 1865
[page 3]
Calendar 1865
List of Sundays
[page 4]
Saturday, Jan. 7, 1865
On the 7th we commenced to build our winter quarters. The sun came out and shone very warm making it pretty
comfortable. And one of the office boys went into the country a foraging we got some wheat and we killed a hog, so we had fresh meat.
Sunday, 8th
The next day we still persisted our daily duty on winter quarters. I went out in the country and got some corn
and shelled it, then took it to the mill and got it ground, we had fresh meat and corn cakes for supper.
Monday, 9th
The next morning raining when we got up It rained all day steadly, it was still raining when we went to bed.
We sent to Madison(?) hunting for pictures of our partime wives. We did not work at all today. We had to stay inside just to keep dry.
[page 5]
January 10, 1865
Trained most of the day today. After it stoped raining it turned round and got cold.
We worked on our buildings most of the day. The rest of the day we done nothing but keep up fires.
Wednesday, 11th
The next morning we got up and got breakfast, then chopped a little wood and in the afternoon we got a team went
to the woods and halled timbers to build our huts with we worked on them until night.
Thursday, 12th
The next day we still worked on our buildings. It being a very pleasant day to work we got along very finely.
We went outside of the picket lines and packed boards to board up the ends of our huts. We drawed rations in the afternoon.
Friday, January 13, 1865
The next day we went out in the country with a team to get lumber to finish building our huts after we halled a
load of boards we then went to get a load of brick to build our chimneys and fireplaces.
Saturday, 14th
In the morning we commenced to build one fire places, we finished them, then made bunks, made doors and boarded
up the ends. A bout dark we moved in them, build a fire in the fireplace and we then went to keeping house.
Sunday, 15th
The next day we did not do anything only write letters and read novels and newspapers –it was pretty cold all
day we had to keep up good fires all day to keep warm. The mail came in but no letters for me.
[page 6]
Monday, January 16, 1865
In the morning we got up and got breakfast then we tore our chimney down and rebuilt it.
It smoked so in the first place so it made it quite unpleasant. It works first rate, it don’t smoke a bit now.
Tuesday, 17th
The next day we policed our streets up then after that I went to town got my ________after lunch I then went
to a store and bought a pair of suspenders for myself from there went to the express office.
Wednesday, 18th
The next day I cleaned my gun up ready for inspection then got dinner after dinner I wrote a letter to one of
my correspondents after I had finished writing I layed down and took a little nap.
Thursday, January 19, 1865
Got up in the morning, got breakfast washed the dishes up then cut a little wood, carried it up, then I set
down and wrote a letter. It looked very much like rain today but it did not rain any today. It was very comfortable to be out of doors. We did not kneed much fire.
Friday, 20th
The next day we had to police our camp and dig ditches around our quarters—in the afternoon we had battalion drill,
come in off drill then we drawed five days rations, after drawing rations, got supper, by that time it was knight, it commenced raining.
Saturday, 21st
Still raining in the morning. It rained most all day. About 9 o’clock all of the privates was ordered out to get
timber to build a house for the guards. Cut timber in the forenoon and in afternoon we commenced to dry.
[page 7]
Saturday, January 28, 1865
It was cold and disagreeable all day, we did not do anything only set by the fire and read novels and write letters.
In the evening we choped wood to do over night, got supper and then was ready for bed.
Sunday, 29th
Today some of the boys got tight, some of them got to fighting and raising the devil. Today is quite pleasant, the sun shone bright all day. The mail came in and I got my photos but they are poor ones.
Monday, 30th
We had to police all over camp and fix up our quarters nice and clean, ready for inspection.
We piled brush and burnt it. We went through a regular process of cleaning.
Tuesday, January 31, 1865
We had to hall away the trash off of the parade ground. In the afternoon I worked on a chimney for Capt. Ogan. It was very warm today, the sun shone bright and clear, in the evening it looked like rain.
Wednesday, February 1, 1865
But it has not rained yet. Today I finished Capt. Ogan’s chimney, then I went to work put a top on my chimney.
In the afternoon we had to drill and drill, we drilled about an hour. After we all had gone to bed for the night men of our regt. had a fight they was drunk.
Thursday, 2nd
I went out in the woods to cut a load of wood for Capt. Ogan. I then went out with the team to hall some rails for
head quarters then I helped to hall a load for myself –by that time it was night.
[page 8]
Friday, 3rd
I was detailed for picket, it was the first time I have stood guard since we left Cleveland, Tennessee.
Our regiment company is broken up we don’t have any ______to do now
Saturday, 4th
I cam off of picket this morning, I slept most all of the forenoon. In the afternoon some of the boys got drunk
and raised cane and got to fighting. Two of them got to fighting and one of them knifed the other, they both got arrested.
Sunday, 5th
I was on guard again in the morning. It was raining and snowing and the wind blowed awful cold.
It got most pleasant long about noon. The countersign was Corinth-1
Monday, February 6, 1865
I came off of guard this morning. Orders came for our camp to go out and cut timbers to build another guard
house but I did not go out with the company as I had just come off of guard.
Tuesday, 7th
Our company was called out again to work. I went out with them we had to work on the guard house til late night.
It snowed today, it was quite cold and disagreeable, most of the snow has gone.
Wednesday, 8th
Today I was on picket. It was surely cold all day—along bout dark it commenced to freeze, from then until morning
it was very cold. I had to keep my ______all the time to keep my feet from freezing. The countersign was Chickamauga
[page 9]
Thursday, February 9, 1865
In the morning about nine oclock we was relieved went by quarters and got breakfast over.
Then I set down and read novels until about two oclock then I went and chopped some night wood.
Friday, 10th
To day I went out choped a load of wood for Capt. Ogan then I went to my quarters sat down and read novels the
remainder of the day in the afternoon we drawed rations.
Saturday, 11th
Today I had to go on guard it was very warm today, nice weather for picketing. Along about evening it begin to get
colder. The countersign we had last night was Tupelo. I was not bothered any through the night by any person trying to get out.
Sunday, February 12
Come off picket this morning, nothing to do all day but chop a little wood to keep up the fire. It was quite warm, the sun shone bright all day. The weather is quite changeable down here in this country, in the day time it is warm, at night cold.
Monday, 13th
Today I did not do anything but lay around quarters all day and chop a little wood to keep up fires.
It was a very ________all day today. I think it will rain tonight for it looks very much like rain.
Tuesday, 14th
Today it is raining. It continued raining until after dark, then it turned round got cold the wind blew very hard
it was such a disagreeable night. On the pickets they had them brought in off of post.
[page 10]
Wednesday, February 15, 1865
This morning I was detailed for guard. The wind blew so cold that it makes it disagreeable.
The countersign last night was Savanah. I was not troubled by any person tonight.
Thursday, 16th
In the morning I was relieved about nine oclock. I went to quarters got my breakfast, the mail came.
I got two letters, I set down and read them.
Friday, 17th
To day I have nothing to do but read, it is very pleasant today, the sun shines warm.
It is so warm that we don’t need any fire but to cook.
Saturday, February 18, 1865
To day it is very warm. I am so lazy I can hardly see. We had to police our camp up ready for inspection,
we had inspection, it went off ___________.
Sunday, 19th
Sunday doing nothing all day but lay around camp. The mail came in and I got two letters.
Monday, 20th
Monday most of our boys got some boxes from home. Then we had a gay time together eating the things sent from home,
it was mighty good to eat a meal from home.
[page 11]
Tuesday, 21st
To day I was detailed for guard, the wind blew very hard all day and it looked like rain but it did not rain any
until morning. It commenced and rained most all day, the wind is still blowing but it is not cold.
Wednesday, 22nd
Came off of guard this morning, went to quarters, got my breakfast and so on. I did not do anything all day.
We fired a salute with the cannon for Washington’s birth day. It sounded a little like a fight to hear the guns go off.
Thursday, 23rd
It has been raining all day to day and no signs of it stopping. The wind blew very hard.
I stayed around quarters all day. I did not do any thing but keep up fires.
Friday, February 24th
It is still raining, last night it thundered and lightning and the wind blew very hard,
pretty soon it commenced raining very hard, it first poured down for a while. I thought it was going to blow the house over.
Saturday, 25th
Still raining this morning, about 10 o’clock it commenced raining very hard and the wind blew very hard,
in the afternoon it quit raining and the wind ceased blowing. It cleared off very warm.
Sunday, 26th
This morning the sun came out and shone warm and nice. We had company inspection this morning.
After inspection the mail came in but no letters for me. About night it commenced raining.
[page 12]
Monday, 27th
To day it is a very pretty day. It did not rain any today. We went out and chopped two loads of wood and
halled it up. Part of the day I was on detail marching around camp policing and cleaning up.
Tuesday, 28th
To day not much going on. I had nothing to do all day. I layed around quarters all day.
A bout dark a detail came around for picket, it being my turn for duty, I had to go. We had to go about three.
Wednesday, March 1, 1865
Miles to get where the picket post was. It was a very disagreeable day, it rained most all day.
When night came I layed down to sleep and it commenced raining very hard. I layed down and covered up with a robe and layed there till morning.
Thursday, 2nd
This morning I came off picket, it rained most of the day. I came in camp got my breakfast then sat down and
read novels all day. The mail came and I got one letter but none from home.
Friday, 3rd
Got up in the morning, got breakfast over, it commenced to rain, it rained most all day, about dark it commenced
to thunder and lightning. Pretty soon it commenced raining like every thing. It poured through the tents.
Saturday, 4th
I did not do any thing all day but lay around quarters. We drawed five days rations.
This afternoon the mail came in but no letter was there for me.
[page 13]
Sunday, March 5, 1865
To day it is warm and pleasant I did not do anything all day but read novels and cook.
It was so warm that it made me as lazy as could be.
Monday, 6th
Went out to the woods and chopped a load of wood came in to camp. After dinner layed down the rest of the day.
No mail came in today.
Tuesday, 7th
We went with the team to hall up the load of wood that we chopped yesterday.
In the afternoon we had battalion drill. I went to draw rations while the rest of the company went out to drill. The weather is nice and warm at present.
Wednesday, 8th
This morning I had to go out on brigade guard. It commenced to rain this morning, it did not rain long,
it cleared off and got warm, the moon shone bright all night.
Thursday, 9th
In the morning it commenced to rain hard just about the time I came off guard. I went to quarters.
We had orders to have grand review today but it rained and spoilt our plan. I was glad of it. The mail came in, I got one letter.
Friday, 10th
Today we had to police our camp. After that was done I did not do anything all the rest of the day.
[page 14]
Saturday, March 11, 1865
Today nothing going on at all. In the afternoon we drawed five days rations of sugar and coffee.
No mail came today the railroad bridge washed away so the cars could not run.
Sunday, 12th
This morning the main came in, I got four letters. At nine o’clock we had company inspection.
After inspection we did not have anything to do all day but read newspapers and books.
Monday, 13th
Today we had nothing to do after we had grand review it took up about three hours before we got through.
The whole division was on grand review and all of the ______on train two.
Tuesday, 14th
Today it rained most of the day today. I did not do anything all day. I just stayed around quarters.
At diner I was detailed for camp guard, I went on just at 2 o’clock and stayed until daylight. It was warm and pleasant all night.
Wednesday, 15th
Got up this morning, got breakfast after that was over, I wrote four letters put them in the office.
It is very warm down here all day. It was warm as it is in Ohio in the summertime.
Thursday, 16th
Today we did not have much of anything to do. The weather is warm today. The ground is dry and dusty.
[page 15]
Friday, March 17, 1865
Friday still warm, the sun shone warm all day. In the afternoon we drawed rations.
Saturday, 18th
To day it is still warm and pleasant. It is very warm today. Tomorrow morning is Sunday we will have company
inspection.
Sunday, 19th
We had inspection this morning, after inspection, the mail came in, I got one letter. After reading it, I sat down
and answered.
Monday, March 20, 1865
Today it rained a little just enough to lay the dust that was about all. When it rains down here in the south it
don’t take it so long to dry off like it does in the north.
Tuesday, 21st
We had nothing to do all day. We just layed around quarters all day, read novels and papers and the such like.
Wednesday, 22nd
Today we still did not have anything to do, it is very lonesome down here in camp, nothing going on,
it trys a fellers patience. Very much when every thing is so dull it makes a person think of home.
[page 16]
Thursday, March 23, 1865
This morning I was detailed for brigade guard. It was warm and nice all day. About dark it got quite cool.
The countersign last night was Charleston.
Friday, 24th
This morning I was relieved about nine o’clock, went in to camp, got breakfast, layed down and took a knap.
Saturday, 25th
Saturday we policed our camp up ready for inspection Sunday. One regt. of our brig. left last knight for Knoxville,
they went about four o’clock in the morning.
Sunday, March 26, 1865
This morning we had regimental inspection. It is a very pleasant day today. The roads are dry and dusty.
About dark I was detailed for camp guard to guard the head quarter horses at the stable.
Monday, 27th
About 11 o’clock today orders came for us to be ready to move at one o’clock.
We marched down to town wheir we took the cars for Knoxville, Tennessee, we rode all night.
Tuesday, 28th
We arrived in Chattanooga about the hour of ten there we layed over until one oclock then we moved off for Knoxville, we rode all night.
[page 17]
Wednesday, March 29, 1865
This morning about daylight one of the trains ran off the track, upset the engine and killed one soldier
out of the 28th K.B. that stopped us on the road a while. We did not get off until about noon, they soon got things fixed then we started, we arrived in Knoxville about three o’clock and went in camp for the night.
Thursday, 30th
We went out about 1 ½ from camp. It rained most of the day, the wind blew very hard, it blew the lights down
the first of last night. Last night it rained very hard.
Friday, 31st
Got up this morning, the wind was blowing, very coll. It rained a little about noon it cleared off and got warm,
the sun came out and shone warm. This afternoon there was a man to be hung but they did not hang him today. He killed a young lady for her money. There was two of them, one of them got shot.
Saturday, April 1, 1865
We left Knoxville this morning, about nine o’clock we arrived in a little place where we layed over from noon until
about four o’clock waiting for trains to pass after passing we started again. We rode all night. We got to Bulls Gap, Tennessee this morning about daylight.
Sunday, 2nd
We got off the cars went into camp up over the hill. The place is the next thing to no place at all.
No person lives around here, hardly once in a while we find a little house built out of logs. The mail came in today, I got two letters.
Monday, 3rd
Today we layed in camp all day. We drawed rations today. This evening I was on guard guarding head quarter horses.
About dark orders came for us to be ready to march at daylight tomorrow morning.
[page 18]
Tuesday, 4th
This morning about four o’clock the bugle sounded revelry, we got up and got breakfast over by the time it was
light. Then the bugle blowed for to fall in to line, we did so and started on themarch. We marched nine miles. We then went to the camp.
Wednesday, 5th
Today we fixed up our camp. The weather is clear. The mud all dried up. Today there was a detail sent out of
our brigade to work on the railroad. It is all tore up and all of the ties are burned. We worked until evening then returned back to camp.
Thursday, 6th
This morning, I was one to go out with a detail to work on the railroad. It was raining a little this morning
but it did not last long. I did not work long for we did not have any grub to eat so I could not work.
Friday, April 7, 1865
Today part of the regt. was detailed to work on the railroad. It was raining when we got up this morning,
it quit about noon and cleared off.
Saturday, 8th
This morning I was one that was detailed to go out and work on the railroad. We finished throwing off the old ties
and rails and leveling it. About three o’clock in the afternoon we then went to our quarters for the day.
Sunday, 9th
This morning our regiment was detailed for picket. The right wing went to one post and the left of another.
It rained most all day today, about dark it commenced to rain and it rained all night. It made it very disagreeable for picketing
[page 19]
Monday, April 10, 1865
Monday morning about nine o’clock we was relieved, we went into camp, got our breakfast, washed up.
It rained the biggest part of the day. Today we did not have any duty to do. Today only draw rations, we drawed five days rations.
Tuesday, 11th
Tuesday morning I was detailed to go and work on the railroad. The sun has come out and shines bright and warm.
We halled ties to the railroad for the hands to lay down ready for the rails. One set of hands lays the ties and the other lays the rails.
Wednesday, 12th
Wednesday I did not have any thing to do all day. It rained part of the day today, so I stayed in camp all day.
Thursday, April 13, 1865
Today still doing nothing but ________and eat. In the afternoon we fixed our quarters up, raysed the tents
up higher and built bunks in them.
Friday, 14th
Friday we had to police our camp up, clear all of the trash off of it and burn it up.
Today we had a day of thanksgiving, no duty today all day, only that what had to be done.
[page 20]
Saturday, April 16, 1865
Today being Sunday we did not have any work to do on the railroad. It was a very warm day today.
We had company inspection this morning. Today we herd that old Abe was killed, that was bad news to us down here in the army.
Monday, 17th
This morning I was detailed to go and work on the railroad. We halled ties all day.
While the railroad hands layed them and the rails.
Tuesday, 18th
Our regiment went out on picket in the afternoon, we had orders to march at five o’clock.
The next morning we went in off of picket about four o’clock in the morning, packed up our things ready for a march.
Wednesday, April 19, 1865
Started on the march this morning, at five o’clock arrived at Bulls gap about eleven o’clock went in to camp,
it rained most all night.
Thursday, 20th
It is still raining today, in the afternoon it quit and got warm. The sun came out warm and dried the ground off.
We fixed up our camp this afternoon.
Friday, 21st
I was detailed to go and help put up some platform to load horses on the cars. Nothing new today, all quiet.
[page 21]
Saturday, April 22nd
Today there was about ten or twelve men come in from Chattanooga to take us to Nashville.
We did not get off this evening; I guess we will go tomorrow. I was on camp guard last night.
Sunday, 23rd
We had orders to be ready to move at any minute. We did not get on the cars until about twelve o’clock at night.
We rode all night. We got to Knoxville the next day about eleven o’clock, we layed over there until 2 o’clock then we started for Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Monday, 24th
We rode all night arrived in Chattanooga the next morning about daylight, layed over there until nine o’clock,
then we started for Nashville. We arrived in Stevenson about 12 o’clock, left there about two o’clock. We did not get in to Nashville until ( no time noted).
Tuesday, April 25, 1865
We road all night last night come from Stevenson, Alabama left there about two o’clock.
Wednesday, 26th
Arrived in Nashville this morning about sunrise, went in to camp about four miles from town.
Thursday, 27th
Thursday we worked at our quarters fixing bunks up and cleaning up camp.
[page 22]
Friday, April 28, 1865
It rained all day today. We did not have any kind of duty to do today but draw rations.
Saturday, 29th
Our regiment went on brigade guard today. It was raining a little in the morning but it did not rain long.
It cleared up about ten o’clock and got warm.
Sunday, 30th
This morning we was relieved, come to the quarters, got breakfast. About ten o’clock we was mustered for pay.
Monday, May 1, 1865
We did not do any thing today, it was pretty cold all day. The wind blew very hard all day.
Tuesday, 2nd
Today it was quite warm. The sun shone warm all day, not duty to do to day. We just layed around camp all day.
Wednesday, 3rd
We did not have any thing to do all day. It was very warm all day.
[page 23]
Thursday, 4th
Still nothing to do. It clouded up in the afternoon and looked like rain but after all it did not rain any.
Friday, 5
We went to the woods and cut forks and poles to fix a shade over our tents, we set the forks in the ground and
layed poles over the top and covered it with brush.
Saturday, 6th
This morning at half past seven o’clock we had guard review, we got through and got back to camp a bout noon,
then our regiment went on brigade guard.
(This is the end of regular entries, however; information on random dates shows where he gave shaves for ten
cents each.)
[page 24]
Oscar D. German, Co. E
Sept. 15, 22, 24, 29; Oct. 1, 5, 19
James Thompson, Co. G
Oct. 1, 5, 20
[page 25]
C. Miller, Co.D
Aug. 8, 19; Sept. 10, 28; Oct. 2
>
J.W. Russell, Co. E
Aug. 8, 12, 16, 18, 27, 29; Sept. 2, 6, 10
G. Holswager, Co. H
Aug. 8, 12, 19; Sept. 10; Oct. 1
John Slover, Co. G
Aug. 12, 16, 29; Sept. 2, 6, 10, 19, 23, 27; Oct. 1
Samuel F. Robinson, Co. F
Aug. 29
Fred Kimbel, Co. D
Sept. 2, 10, 24; Oct. 1, 4
[page 26]
E.W. Thompson, Co. E
Sept. 6; Oct. 20
H. Taber, Co. H
Sept. 5
[page 27]
John L. Richardson, Co. E
Sept. 20; Oct. 29
John W. Emerson, Co. E
Sept. 22
H.G. Shell, Co. E
Sept. 22
S.N. Watson, Co. E
Sept. 22; Oct. 3
[page 28]
Geo. Hochtetter, Co.E
Sept. 22
[page 29]
1st Lieut. W.H. Bevan
Sept. 24; Oct. 1, 5, 19
1st Lieut. Samuel Chesnutt, Co. B
Oct. 7
Captain P. Ogan, Co. E
Oct. 15
B. Dawson, Co.B
Sept. 22; Oct. 2
H. Hanson
Sept. 1
David Rook, Co.B
Oct. 2, 12
[page 30]
John Lagin, Co.B
Oct. 3
1st Lieut. C. Watkins, Co.C
Shave and hair cut
Oct. 5
1st Lieut. Ed C. Miller, Co. G
Oct. 7
Waldon Kelley
Oct. 19
[page 31]
J. and W.B. Brooks,
Columbus, Ohio
[page 32]
John Fleming
West Liberty, Monroe County, Ohio
Transcribed by: Joyce Hicks
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