I don't know how my grandmother came into possession of this diary, since it didn't belong to anyone in our family. It was written by a friend of her grandfather, a Union soldier from New York. It is a very interesting look at the life of a soldier during the Civil War. I have retyped it to be read here, or you can download a text version.
John L. Foster
14th Regd Band
N.Y.S.V.
July 17th 1861
Left Batavia, N.Y. at one Pm for Washington D.C. to join the 14th Regd N.Y.S.V. as the Regd Band
Went through Baltimore Md July 18 then Phil
July 19 - arrived in Washington at 11 a.m. we marchd 2 miles the boys were verry glade to see us. it was a hot day
July 20 at Camp Douglas the 1st we plaid for gardmount and were sworn in the U.S. service plaid for Dresperad
July 21st we recived marching orders
July 22 we marched to Arlington hights it rained hard all day
July 23rd nothing doing
July 24th same hot
July 25th "
July 26 got a permit to go to Washington went in the shite house Trasur Capetile Pat Office saw a lot had a good time
July 27 nothing to day
July 28 same
July 29 "
July 30 Inspection of the Regd. all went of well the boyse injoyd our musice well
July 31 I went again to Washington to have my Instrument fixet spent all day took in all the sights
Augt 1 - 1861
no orders
2nd same
3d " went over to the 12 Regt to see the Batavia boys
4th the 14 wase cald out to parade Pres Lincoln Inspected the Regt
5th no orders to day went down to the Potamic river
Augt 6 - no order out drilling
7- no orders I went over to Gen Lees house we ransct the house I got pease riben from Mrs Lees bonnet and some flower - we had to get. the Rebs were after us
8 no orders
9- same
10- "
11- " rained all day
Augt 12/61
no order - drilling
13 now order " very cold
14 same
15 "
16 "
17- no orders the boys raised the old nick and wanted to brack up camp the Col cald out Sharmins battery to lean on the boyse so we had to keap still.
Augt 18-61
no orders Drilling
19- " "
20- "
21 " I went over to see the 12 boys
22 no orders our Bass drum busted
23 a Bricade Inspection it wase a good one
24 a dispatch came in that the enimirs are marching aginst us
Augt 25/1861
Sunday we had a Searmen Preachd we plaid why do Summer roses fat and Rest Spearet rest the entire Regt wase out
26- A Bricade Drill thir were 6 Regt 2 Calvery Regt 2 Artillary co. a big time Pres Lincoln was with us the wind blew of his hat I picked it up gave it to him he cald me a good boy
27 We had orders to march in the Battlefield left 7-Pm came back 11 Pm _______ firding
Augt 28/1861
marchd out again to the Battle field some firing a Reble shell cam over me but dun no dammge
29 still on the B-field a Balloon came over from Washington to our camp and went up to spy out the Ennimes
30 no hard fiegting to day
31 same
Sep 1st - 61
back in camp Sunday a nother Serman wase preachd we playd a gen church music
2 no order
3 "
4 " one more Baloon came over to us
5 no orders
6 "
7 "
8 "
9 "
10 "
Sep 11 - 61
Long roll wase cold we had to march out at once for battle firing all the time
12 nothing to day
13 Long roll cald again we met the Rebles to day we drove them back and we lersevd several
14 back to camp no firing to day
15 no order
16 "
17 " a inspection it rained hard
Sep 18 - 61
at Ford cockren no fiting
19 nothing to day
20 "
21 "
22 I went over to the 12 Regt
23- A W Gardner our Leader went to the Hospitle sick I lead the Band all went well
24 no order
25 " I went to Wash D C
26 Dr. Sharmen wen to Georgtown Hospitle so we had no Barritone
Sep 27/61
no order I went to the City Wash again saw H. Dingman
28 the Regt went out to day a nother atacket
29 we got 3 Rebles 2 of our boys wounted
30 rested to day no fighting
Oct 1st 1861
I recd a box of nicknacks from home Mrs Miller sent it to me
2 no orders
3 we mooved to Munson Hill, Va Camp Molicken
4 no orders
5 "
6 "
7 "
8 "
9 to day we had to march to Briner Hill, Va.
Oct 10/61
no order
11 "
12 "
13 " we saw the Enimys about one mile from our line our Battery Sheld them
14 no fieding to day
15 we sheald the Enimes we caught them setting a house on fire we kild severl of them one of our boys wounted
Oct 16/61
no fieding to day
17 "
18 "
19 "
20 "
21 " Billy Arnold and I went over to see the 12 boys
22 We got Marching orders.
23 no fiting
Oct 24/61
no figting some of our boys went over to the 9 Massachust Regt
25 nothing to day
26 had a Brickad Drill 10000 men in Line
27 no order
28 "
29 " one of our boys died a member of Co F
Oct 30 - 61
we Buried him at fals Church Va 4 mile march we plaid to the funerall
31 nothing to day some of us went over to see the 44 Regt
Nov 1 - 1861
a Bricade Drill
2 no order it raind hard
3 I went over to the 12 Reg saw Tutle Fosey from Batavia
4 Brigad Drill
5 no order
6 " I wose sick
7 " " "
8 " " "
Nov 9/1861
we had a bricade Drill at Baileys Cross road Va. 12000 soldirs many Cavlry & Baterys Pres Linclon and many Washington People and many Ladys were pres the Wash Ladis presented the 14 Reg the folowing day with white gloves our Band wase cald out of the ranks and Put on the stand to play for the intire review we were cald the best Band on the field I had the priviled to Lead the Band
today is a lonely Sunday
11 2 of our boys were punishd to day for not doing thire duty
12 no order
13 "
14 "
15 "
16 order that are to march to South Carolina
Nov 17/61
no orders
18 " Anderson our 2nd Eb (flat) run away went home
19 orders wire recd that we are to have a nother big review the colnal wanted the boys to do there best and keap up our repution
Nov 20/1861
a nother review at Valls Crosroad we marchd 4 mils - there were 70.000 Soldirs and 100 cannons several regt of Cavelry this wase the Largest and finest review I eer saw the President & many people from Wash D C wire their our Regt led the parade
Nov 21 - no orders I went over to the 49
22 no order
23 "
Nov 24/61
1st snow to day 1st we saw since we left home
25 no order
26 Long roll wase cald we had to march out
27 to day is thanksgiven the boys trimed up the camp
28 no orders
29 I went to Wash D C got me a new E-b (flat) cornet
30 no order
Dec 1/1861
no order
2 no order
3 " snow & cold
4 "
5 "
6 "
7 "
8 "
9 "
Dec 10/1861
no orders our Regt had their Photograph takn in the Camp Dan Nash died to day
11 no order
12 Playd for D Nash funrel
13 no order
14 "
15 "
16 "
Dec 17/1861
Played for a nother Funral one of the Co E boys got kild our Leader did not go out with us I Lead the Band
18 no orders
19 "
20 out at a nother review
21 no orders
22 "
23 " snowed and blew hard cold all day
Dec 24 - 1861
no order
25 Cristmas to day one of our boys got shot
26 no orders
27 "
28 "
29 "
30 " Andrews came back
31 no orders Mrs Tomlinson & Miz Wright from Batavia came to see us they coaxed us to come home. good by 1861
Jan 1st 1862
new year no orders
2 no orders
3 "
4 " snowed agen
5 recd orders to go to Tennese did not go
6 no orders
7 "
8 "
9 "
Jay 10/1862
no orders
11 "
12 " mor snow
13 "
14 " about 4 in snow cold
15 "
16 "
17 we went out on Picked to day had a hard time
Jay 18/1862
no orders
19 we cam back from 3 day Picket
20 no orders our Lead A.S. Gardener run away and went home I now lead the Band
21 no orders I and B Wynem went ot Alexander Va we saw a dredful place
22 no order
23 we recd marching orders cold
Jay 25 1862
no order
25 " snowed
26- Sunday a lonely one
27 Monday no orders a fine day we were out on Drill today our Batery wase with us they fired a shot the shell busted right by us but now one wase hurt. this eve we went to serenaed our Colonel but he wase not in wase over to Gen Porters we went their and serenaded them we recd much praise
Jay 28/1862
no orders
29 " very cold
30 no orders to day a unplesent day we playd for a nother funral one ofour boys died we sent him home in the evening we Serenated our Colnel & hise wife she wase with him in CAmp we playd 4 peasis and we wir cald in and wire well praisd by the Colnel & hise wife. Weplaid better than ever before. All over the camp we heard cheers
Jay 30/1862
no orders to day. A unplesand day our Dr. Churchel presented a gold mounted Swoard to our Colnel this eve we were also present to play good musi ck and we did from 8 to 10. Pm all went off fine
Feb1/1862
no orders bad weather
2 to day is Sunday and a lonly day Fritz Munsen our B.b. (flat) player took sick he had to go to the Houspitle in the Camp we reced a letter from Batavia that our leader Gardner that runaway wase in Batavia we never saw him any more
3 no orders snowed
4 " o how lonely
Feb 5/1862
no orders
6 "
7 no orders we plaid for gardmount this morning after that we went in to the woods to practis whil so doing the long roll wase cald the Regd left in a hurry before we got back to camp they wire gon. Linc Gardon & I folowed them up and after 8 mile walk we caught up to them they with a Reg of cavelry were in line of batle the Ennimis were coming in line of battle our Regd & cavelydrove them back we kild some and caught 12 of the Rebs one of our Cap got wounted & so did 2 of the boys but we lost none. They are a bad set of men if they to capturd us we would never seen our home agen they would of shot us all
Feb 8/1862
no orders. I copied a pease of music that I got from the 4th Mich Regd Band it wase a fine piece
9 Sunday no orders a fine day we read in the News paper that Congress was trying to pas a act to muster out all Regt Band bad news for us we dont want to go
10 no orders
11 " to day it snowed a regular Blicerd day
Feb 12/1862
A fine day no orders the 4th Mich Band came over and cernated our Colonal. we recd good news to night that our Boys took Roranock Island and took 2000 Rebels & kild 1000. We lost 300 and lots wounted
13 no orders to day
14 "
15 our Regt & the 4th Mich marchd to Alxander to guard the R.R. but no tract
Feb 16/62
no orders
17 a raine day we were orded out but no go 4 Pm the news came in that our boys took Ford Danlinson & 15000 Prisners the lose on both side were very havy we came out on the Parade ground and Played the Star spangle banner the boys all came out and chears could be heard all over
Feb 18/1862
we went out agen but no battle
19 back no orders
20 "
21 no order my old boss Mr Miller from Batavia came to see me he stayed 3 days with me then went home I went a few miles with him he felt bad he wanted me to go home with him. but I could not go
Feb 22/62
no orders
23 "
24 a call came in we had to march out but a heavey rain came up and both sides had to fall back no fieghting
25 no orders to day Gen Morrell was presentd with flage by hise Brigade and there wase a grand time we plaid
26 no order
27- we recd marching and went out to block the Rebels nad it wase a storme day
28- no trouble today we recd Pay to day for the 1st time in a long time the boys were sower but after pay all felt better good by Feb
March 1/1862
no orders fine day all went off well the Boys all are happy
2 a order came to us that must moove out we had to draw 5 days rastion about 1-Pm it comensd to snow and it wase verry cold we sufferd much
3- noon it comenced to rain hard and at night the wind blew so we could not keep our tents up
March 4-1862
no orders we went out to practice
5 no orders Isent home a musick book I coupet (copied) off
6 our Regt went out on Picket to day Brig Gen F-W-Lander died to day he wase wounted in the batle of Bloomer Gabe
7 no order fine day
March 8/62
we went back to Camp from picket today
9 Sunday we had to Drill this morning and in the after noon we had a big Dresperad the 4th Mich & 62-Pen Regt came in parad with us and we had a big time Gen Portter & stafe were present in the eve we heard heavy firing at Bull run it wase horred
March 10/62
We left our old Camp Trinners (?) Hill at 2 Pm for Fairfax Coart house a hard long march - from 2 to 7-Pm we were all plaid out- that eve we plaid the Star spangle B and we were the 1st Union Regt in that place
11- at Fairfax in Camp we had such a cold night we like to froze to daeth we had to lay in snow & with our blankets froce in the ground one of our Battery boys wase so cold he fell of his horse and died
March 12/62
Fairfax I saw some rebles brought in to our Camp poor looking Boys
13 after gard mount Geo Gardner Lewis & I went out and talked with the Rebs
14- we had orders to march again Lewis & I walked out 1 mile back of Fairfax coart House to a farm house we found 2 Reble soldiers their they run out and off but they shot at us. we fired at them I shot one in the leg but he got off
March 15-62
got orders to go from fairfax at 6 a m in the morning to Alexander Va we had a hard march it rained all day got within 2 miles of it at 5 Pm- Lewis Geo & I went into Alexander Va that eve and we had to dig out in a hurry all the Peoble are Rebs we came near getting shot
16- no ord Lewis & I went over to Ford Worth a Union Ford and a dandy
March 17/62
Camp Aliccenter Va no order
18- " Geo & I went over to fort Elsworth & back we had a Bricad Drill all went of well
19- we had a big revew 12000 men Gen McLellen Gen McDonedl Gen Granklin Gen Hinzelmen were present
20- Alexcenter it raind hard orders came in to march out a fine time to go in a hard rain
March 21/62
Left Alexander to take the steamer Nelly Baker for Fortress Monrow Va we saw Fort Washington Mount Vernon grand cenery
22- we passd the reble blockade all right no firing wase done on eather side we had 4 gunboats with us 27 boats in all
23- on water yet arrived at Fortis Monrow at 8 Pm left the steamer and Campet out in the refiniry all night we had nothing to eat it wase a hard thing for us we saw the little Monetor the yanky cheese box the Reb call it
24- we marchd through Hampton once a fine town but the Rebs burnd it all up. it wase a sad sight to the entire town in ruins the next morning we saw the Rebs way off diging out as fast as they could
25 we folowed onward and came towats a place cald big bathle (battle?) the Rebs capturd 2 of our boys we stopt her all right
March 26/62
no orders to day every thing was still
27 we started to march to big Bathle 10 mile march this is a place we were defeated once but we are bount to take it and hold it this time we capterd it we planted the stars & stripes on it this time we drove them off we folowed them up but they would not stant & fiet the 14th chased them like dogs we shot 3 and took some presners we had Cap Folets Battery with us one of our 14 boys was shot we had a hart time this is what you get by being a solder
March 28/62
to day we had to take a rest Dr. Sharman Geo & I went over to Chespeek Bay & got some Oysters had a good time
29- no orders today it raind all day
30- it still rainy hard we had to march out and it wase bad got so wied (wet?)
31- returned back to camp to wait for beter weather good by March
April 1 - 1862
no orders to day
2 we went out on picket
3- orders to march to York Town thats what we want
4. we marchd 3 mils to big Battle we met the rebles thire they commencd firing at us we returned shots to them our Battery _____ (opent? fired?) on them and they dug out some of our Regt was wounded we also give them the same Kild 2 we lad all night in the wood 3 miles from York Town
April 5/1862
this morning we heard havy firing at York Town we wir orded at once to go we arived at York town at 10. am and at once ingaged in a big fight many of the Rebs were kild & wounted a number ofour boys also wire kild & wounted at night firing ceasd and it wase only kapt up by our Picets (?)
April 6 Sunday no fied today the Rebs fired all day now and then a cannon ball over at us but did us no harm this is my birth day Ill remember it
7- no fied to day only reconointring now and then a shot was fired
April 8 - 62
a bad night for us it raind all night we had no shelter all niet the Rebs kapt shelling us off & on
9- no fied to day very cold to day
10- nothing to day. a snow storm
11- no orders raine again shels are still coming over at us
12 nothing to day same as yesterday
13- nothing to day
14- " " "
15- our Regt went out on picet the Rebs capturd some of our men but we took them back nad got a few of the rebs
April 16/62
at York town yet on picket heavy firing today on both sides it raind all day many wount it
17 firing today our boys are crosing the river
18- this morning at 3 a m the Rebs atacted our left and a hard balled wase fought many kild & wounted
19- Still firing I helped care a Kild soldir out from the brest work the rebs fired several shels at us but did not hit us today I read in the MY paper that the 14-NYSV. wire all Kild only 14 saved that is not so we lost al lot but not all Kild
April 20/62
nothing don firing continued
21- raind hard all day - nothing
22- orders came to move back
23- nothing today we held our grount
24- we mooved to the right the Rebs Sheld us but we put up brest work Gen McClen cam a long says it is a sight to see the work our boys done
25 nothing new to day
26- still rain - nothing
April 27/62
the Rebs give a heavy storm of bullets oh how they did hum about us
28- nothing new
29 " "
30 big firing on our side we made them get many wounted
May 1 - 1862 Va
we went in to camp at York town today
2- much firing to day
3- went out on Picket 4 of our boy hurd
May 4/62
great firing came on us from the Rebs we drove them back they left. we were orded to follow them we did so
5- orders cam in for a nother battle
6- news came to us we took Gen McKrich (?) and 10,000 men
May-7- fiting continued
8- marching towerd West Point
9- arived at West Point We caught 31 Rebs and Kild some.
(10) nothing new today
11- Genl MC came in
12- no news
13 still in camp West Point but we left Pm marcht to Cumberlin
14- arived at Cumberlen Landing
15- nothing
16- left Cumberlin today
17- arived at White house
18- nothing
19- we had a long hart march
20- a nother " " "
May 21 - 62 Va
we marcht to Hanover Coart house
22- it raind hart
23- " "
24- " "
25- " nothing don
26- no rain today ready for Battle
27- this day we will always remember 18 mile march 8 miles beyond Richmond nothing to eat. in a big battle Porter Division was forct back - terrible fiet the lose on both side wase heavy
28- we stayed on the Batle feald all night nothing to eat - 2 days
May 29/62 W. Va
today we marched back 18 miles to Gains Mills a nother hard march and nothing to eat
30 today we had the hardest thunter storm I ever knew it struck and Kild one of 44 boys
31- at Ganse Mills havey firing near Richmondt we had orders to march a gain
June 1 - 62 left crost Chickahomeny
" 2- hald no order
" 3- "
" 4- "
" 5- "
" 6- went out on Picked one of our boys got shot. one Co H
June 7 - 62
none news
8 "
9 "
10 " raind hart
11 " "
12 " "
13 orders to march the Rebs are coming in on our right we stopd them
14- nothing doing
15- " "
16- "
17- "
18- "
19- march
20- "
21- "
22 - 23 - 24 - 25 count of the 7 day
26 Battle to
July 1st
June 27/62
in to a nother Battle at old church a hart fight we won Chickahomeny
28 a nother Battle at Gaims (?) Mills we lost our Lt Colnel we hat to fall back
29 had to crose the Chicahomeny agen I was wounded right side & haed
30 Rebs came again we had a nother fight and had to fall back
July 1/62 Va
we had a nother battle it wase a hard one our lose wase heavey
2 we had to fall back
3 " " " "
4 fiet Monson wase hurt I also was by busting of a Shell
5 "
6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - fied (fight)
12- at Harison Landing - no orders
13 - 14 no orders
15 - 16 - 17- "
18 - 19 - 20 "
21 - 22 - 23 " nothing to eat
24 - 25 " "
26 - 27 " very hot "
July 28/1862 Va
a order ready to march with 3 day rashon a nother fight before us
29 march & fight
30 the Rebs sheld us - one of our boy wase Kild I wase wounted on my right Sied haed hand and knee &sid by brusting of a sheel the Rebs fired at us on the other side of James River
31- firing Capet up
Augt 1/1862 Va
Rebs keap Shelling us
2 Some of our boys went acrosed the river and burnd some of the Rebs houses
3- no orders
4 "
5 "
6 "
7- today we heard that all bands are to be musterd out
Augt 8/1862 at Va
no orders
9 "
10- we recd our muster out
11 Left for Washington and went home
arived home Batavia N Y
Augt 18 - 1862 - All O.K
Inlisted in the Army U.S.
left Batavia N.Y. July 6/1861 - Arived in Washington D.C. July 9-
joint our Regt the 14th N.Y.S.V - July 17th 1861. Sworn in the
U.S. Servise July 20-1861-
Dischargd by a act of Congres Augt 10th 1862. at Harrison Landing
Va.
(Civil War Diary typed October of 1988 by Clara Haskins Sauls.
Parentheses inserted by typist.)
Download this file in .txt format.
