The Diary of Peter C. Bird

This diary was kept by Peter C. Bird during 1862 and 1863. The diary itself is for 1862. Peter left many of the pages blank, however. Later he utilized some of the blank spaces, crossed out the original date, and penciled in a new entry. These entries are in blue. While not exceptionally insightful, this diary does give a good perspective on one soldier's Civil War experiences.

The following entries comprise the period of his military service. As time allows, I will return to The Wayne museum, and complete the transcription. The diary as been edited slightly for clarity. Any errors of transcription are my own.

Friday, August 1, 1862

Crabbed and drew in wheat

Saturday, August 2, 1862

Drew Wheat
SD. Whitaker

Sunday, August 3, 1862

Went to Wm Purdee

Monday, August 4, 1862

Drew wheat
SD Whitaker
Recd Payment $24

Tuesday, August 5, 1862

Went to Wayne
Paid for ticket $1.00
Ticket Ann Arbor 45-

Wednesday, August 6, 1862

Went to Wayne
Worked for R. Bird

Thursday, August 7, 1862

Worked for R Bird

Friday August 8, 1862

Worked for R Bird
Enlisted in 24 Regt

Saturday August 9, 1862

Worked for R Bird

Wednesday, August 27, 1862

Recd first months pay $19, $25 Bounty

Thursday, August, 28, 1862

Received $16 bounty

Friday, August 29, 1862

Left camp Barnes
4 pm Saluted Col Wilcox arrived at boat 7pm left Detroit 8pm on May Queen.

Saturday, August 30, 1862

Arrived at Cleveland 5 pm Started for Baltimore (crossed out) Pittsburgh 9 am

Sunday, August 31, 1862

Arrived at Baltimore (crossed out) Pittsburgh
6 O'clock pm.
Started for Baltimore 8 pm.

Monday, September 1, 1862

Started for Washington 9 o'clock am. Arrived at Washington 11am. Started for Camp 2 pm, arrived 6pm.

Tuesday, September 2, 1862

Rec'd marching orders did not go.

Wednesday, August 3, 1862

Lay at Camp Morrow.

Thursday, September 4, 1862

Marched 9 miles to Camp Wayne.

Friday, September 5, 1862

Lay over at Camp Wayne.

Saturday, August 6, 1862

Lay at Camp Wayne
Went on Guard

Sunday, September 7, 1862

At service by Chap. Way
Marched 9 o'clock pm 10 miles

Monday, September 8, 1862

Marched at sunrise for Washington
Marched for Camp Shearer

Tuesday, September 9, 1862

Lay over at Camp Shearer

Wednesday, September 10, 1862

Lay over at Camp Shearer

Thursday, September 11, 1862

Stand at Camp Shearer
Attend prayer meeting at Chaplain's tent

Friday, September 12, 1862

Went on fatigue duty with company

Saturday, September 13, 1862

Lay at Camp Shearer
Mailed letter to M M of W

Sunday, September 14, 1862

Attend divine service Chap Way preached from Text "Abstain From the Very Appearance of Evil".

Monday, September 29, 1862

Received marching orders for Fredericksburg (crossed out) McClellands army at Frederick

Tuesday, September 30, 1862

Regt Marched at 6 ½ pm Went to Sanitary commission rooms

Thursday, October 2, 1862

Visited Patent Office and Georgetown
Left Washington for Frederick at 5 pm on Pontoon Train

Friday, October 3, 1862

Arrived at Camp Clark
12 N found regt near Frederick town
Monday October 6, 1862
Marched for Sharpsburg at 4 ½ PM

Wednesday, October 8, 1862

Arrived at Camp Harbaugh 11am
2 miles west of Sharpsburg

Monday, October 20, 1862

Marched for Bakersville
Arrived at 1 o'clock for Camp Penniman

Tuesday, October 21, 1862

On Guard

Sunday, October 26, 1862

[illegible] Marched at 2 o'clock for camp near Petersville
Near Sharpsburg

Monday, October 27, 1862

Marched 9 am Camped near Blue Ridge

Tuesday, October 28, 1862

Marched 10 am through Berlin gap Burcetville Petersville
Camped at Camp Hicky near Harpers Ferry

Thursday, October 30, 1862

Marched to Berlin
Crossed the river
Marched 6 miles in VA

Friday, October 31, 1862

Mustered for pay
Marched from Camp Henry
To camp Stuart

Saturday, November 1, 1862

Marched from Camp Duncan Stuart to Camp Towers

Monday, November 3, 1862

Marched for Snickers Gap Camped 6 miles

Tuesday, November 4, 1862

Marched at 12 N

Wednesday, November 5, 1862

Marched for Manassas R R

Thursday, November 6, 1862

Marched for Berlin (crossed out) Warrenton
Guarding train a very hard days march arriving at 10 pm

Friday, November 7, 1862

Very cold weather with much suffering no rations issued except Sugar. Troops subsisting on parched corn which they gather from the fields.

Saturday November 8, 1862

McCleland relieved by Gen Burnside as Commander of Army of Potomac. Lay in a woods near Warrenton in very uncomfortable condition we thought.

Sunday November 9, 1862

Gen McClellan & Burnside at Head Quarters many of the boys go to see them. Say they frequently refreshed themselves with potations from the same canteen.

Monday, November 10, 1862

The boys were probably mistaken in their suppositions as to the contents of the Canteen.

Tuesday, November 11, 1862

Marched for Fayettesville. Arrived 6 o'clock. Camp Nall.

Monday, November 17, 1862

Marched from Camp Nall for Fredericksburg. Camped at Bel Plain

Tuesday November 18, 1862

Marched at 8 A.M

Wednesday, November 19, 1862

Marched at 9

Thursday, November 20, 1862

Camped near Brooks Station (crossed out). Camped at Camp Blair

Monday, November 24, 1862

Marched on to RR from Aquia Creek to Brookeses Station

Friday, December 5, 1862

Marched back to Brooks Station

Saturday, December 6, 1862

Lewis Conklin Co A. 2 Wis Vols

James J. Newington

Co B 24 Mich Vol

Sunday, December 7, 1862

Isaac Readout 19 Ind Vol co. D

Wm St. Clair Co D 19 Ind Vol

Monday, December 8, 1862

Pat Drumer o F 2 Wis vol

Wm Hill co B 19 Ind vol

Richard Paget co D

Tuesday, December 9, 1862

Marched for Falmouth. Rec'd Payment $21.20 Camped 9 miles from F

Wednesday, December 10, 1862

Marched 9 miles

Thursday, December 11, 1862

Reveille at 2 A.M. Cannonading commenced 5 A.M. Marched at 6

Friday, December 12, 1862

Crossed the Rappahannock. Lay in Bennets Chestnut Grove. Received first shell from the Enemy

Saturday, December 13, 1862

Arose from our bivouac at day break and breakfasted on hardtack and raw pork prepatory to doing some hard fighting if necessary. Started at Sunrise. Supported batteries all day.

Monday, December 15, 1862

Retreated back, went on picket

Saturday, December 20, 1862

Marched for White Oak Church. Got lost.

Tuesday December 23, 1862

Marched for Pratts landing Camp Isabella.

January 20, 1862

Marched toward Falmouth. Crossed RR. Camped.

January 21, 1863

Marched at 8 am. Camped at 1 pm,

January 22, 1863

Marched at 8 am for old camp.

April 22, 1863

Marched for Port Conway at 1 1/2 pm.

April 23, 1863

Crossed to Port Royal 4 1/2 am recrossed Rappahannock, marched to camp.

April 24, 1863

Signed pay roll

April 25, 1863

Received payment to $52 allotment Church (?) $40 No. 218

April 28, 1863

Marched at 12 pm to Rappahannock

April 29, 1863

Had skirmish. Crossed the river at 9 1/2 am. 15 men killed and wounded in 24.

April 30, 1863

Commenced fortifying went on picket at 12 pm remained till dark. Rebs commenced firing 4 1/2 pm continued till dark worked all nigh. 2 men killed.

May 1, 1863

Lay in intrenchments all day. No firing

May 2nd

Commenced shelling in the morning. drew of left [ ] and marched for union ford.

May 3, 1863

Sunday. Started at 2am and marched to front. Lay on reserve.

May 4, 1863

Went on picket our own men fired at by 21 Jersey

May 5, 1863

Moved post and threw up breastworks.

May 6, 1863

Recrossed river and camped above Falmouth

May 7, 1863

Marched at 5 am below Fredericksburg. Camped at Camp Way

May 20, 1863

Marched at 4 1/2 am 3 days rations to Westmoreland courthouse returned on the 26th.

May 29, 1863

Recd payment. Allotment check $20 no. of check 848 Cash $6

May 31, 1863

Went on Picket

June 12, 1863

Marched from Camp Way 5 1/2 am halted at Harwood to execute prisoner wood for desertion at Harwoods. halted at 7

June 13, 1863

Marched at 3 1/2 am for Bealston Station halted at 6 pm 1 1/2 miles from station.

June 14, 1863

Marched at 8 o'clock for Warrenton Junct. arrived at 5 am on 15th marched on to Centerville

June 17, 1863

Marched from Centerville at 4 am for Leesburg order countermanded stopped at Herndon Station

June 19, 1863

Marched from Herndon to Guilford Station 8 miles Leesburg.

June 25, 1863

Marched from Guilford to Edwards Ferry crossed Potomac marched through Poolesville

June 26, 1863

Marched through Greenville Addamstown & crossed Monacacy camped near Jefferson

June 27, 1863

Marched to Middletown

June 28, 1863

Marched to Fredericktown

June 29, 1863

Marched to Emmetsburg

June 30, 1863

Marched 5 miles

July 1, 1863

Marched to Gettysburg 10 o'clock am. Charged on Gen Archers Brigade taking the whole Brigade prisoners. Changed front to rear and marched to right during this movement Lt. Colonel Flanigan was wounded through the left leg while on his horse passing in rear of the 3rd division column of the regiment - the regiment being in Division Column at the time

This diary is courtesy of the Wayne Historical Museum. Used with permission.