The Process
June 20th, 1861
Today is the day, I've just turned 19 and there is talk around the town about a war that has broke out in the South. They say it is all over a newly elected President, Abraham Lincoln. However, I don't know much on the issue, but I do know that as soon as I can, I'm signing up for the war to support the Union Army and bring glory to my family and my hometown... Wabash, Indiana.
June 20th, 1861
Today is the day, I've just turned 19 and there is talk around the town about a war that has broke out in the South. They say it is all over a newly elected President, Abraham Lincoln. However, I don't know much on the issue, but I do know that as soon as I can, I'm signing up for the war to support the Union Army and bring glory to my family and my hometown... Wabash, Indiana.
May 1st, 1861
Finally it is time to begin my life as a Union Soldier. I have been given my uniform, a handbook, and my weapon. I'm suppose to report for duty in the morning after studying my handbook. In the handbook, it gives me a set of words that I must know to understand what is going on in the war. I have practiced them multiple times and I think I am slowly getting them down, but I will practice them with one of my new friends that I have met.
Finally it is time to begin my life as a Union Soldier. I have been given my uniform, a handbook, and my weapon. I'm suppose to report for duty in the morning after studying my handbook. In the handbook, it gives me a set of words that I must know to understand what is going on in the war. I have practiced them multiple times and I think I am slowly getting them down, but I will practice them with one of my new friends that I have met.
July 15th, 1861
There are talks about finally seeing some action in the next week. We are located at Manassas Junction in Virginia and we can see the Confederate soldiers putting up camp. Their army looks gigantic compared to ours, but most of their soldiers are wearing gray. I think gray is a little weird to be wearing on the battle field, but all I know is that they keep yelling at the top of their lungs. I just wonder how this battle will turn out in the next couple of days?
There are talks about finally seeing some action in the next week. We are located at Manassas Junction in Virginia and we can see the Confederate soldiers putting up camp. Their army looks gigantic compared to ours, but most of their soldiers are wearing gray. I think gray is a little weird to be wearing on the battle field, but all I know is that they keep yelling at the top of their lungs. I just wonder how this battle will turn out in the next couple of days?
July 30th, 1861
I have not had much time to wright in my diary in awhile, but the battle of Manassas or what I hear people calling it now is the Battle of Bull Run. Camp life is getting a little different compared to what it was before the battle. It is mainly filled with small tents, but there meant for two or three people at a time. I just don't know how this is going to get better especially since all my friends were killed during battle.
I have not had much time to wright in my diary in awhile, but the battle of Manassas or what I hear people calling it now is the Battle of Bull Run. Camp life is getting a little different compared to what it was before the battle. It is mainly filled with small tents, but there meant for two or three people at a time. I just don't know how this is going to get better especially since all my friends were killed during battle.
October 20th, 1861
We have been on the run from the Confederates for months now. I have not had much time to do anything except battle my way from place to place to survive. However, the one thing that has upset me is the description that people give when talking about people dying. They have know idea on how people died during some of the battles I have been in or other battles some of my friends have been in.
We have been on the run from the Confederates for months now. I have not had much time to do anything except battle my way from place to place to survive. However, the one thing that has upset me is the description that people give when talking about people dying. They have know idea on how people died during some of the battles I have been in or other battles some of my friends have been in.
December 25th, 1861
Merry Christmas to me! Today is Christmas and here in the camp morale is down. No one wants to be here anymore and all we have seen is death and mayhem. Everyone is tired and wants to go home. In fact, I had a horrible dream last night from one of the recent battles. I was getting ready to go into battle and could just felt like I was about to get sick. I was nervous because I had all of this emotions of what was going to happen to me when the battle began.
Merry Christmas to me! Today is Christmas and here in the camp morale is down. No one wants to be here anymore and all we have seen is death and mayhem. Everyone is tired and wants to go home. In fact, I had a horrible dream last night from one of the recent battles. I was getting ready to go into battle and could just felt like I was about to get sick. I was nervous because I had all of this emotions of what was going to happen to me when the battle began.
January 19th, 1862
We have been traveling all around the South to important cities that I have never even dreamed of seeing. I have included a map that me and my friend created while we were in camp. The map is a something that I have put together with all the major battles that I have heard of from different camps I stay at. I wish that these battle would stop, but I feel like I will be adding to this map later on.
We have been traveling all around the South to important cities that I have never even dreamed of seeing. I have included a map that me and my friend created while we were in camp. The map is a something that I have put together with all the major battles that I have heard of from different camps I stay at. I wish that these battle would stop, but I feel like I will be adding to this map later on.
September 18th, 1862
I have been wounded and I'm writing this entry in a hospital bed out side of West Virginia. I hear people saying that this battle is the worst of the entire war so far. There is a lot of talk to what actually happened during the battle. All I know is that within 10 minutes of the beginning of the battle, I was shot in the arm and passed out. I have put in a summary of what some of the people are saying in the hospital.
I have been wounded and I'm writing this entry in a hospital bed out side of West Virginia. I hear people saying that this battle is the worst of the entire war so far. There is a lot of talk to what actually happened during the battle. All I know is that within 10 minutes of the beginning of the battle, I was shot in the arm and passed out. I have put in a summary of what some of the people are saying in the hospital.
January 4th, 1863
I know that I have not been writing a lot of entries lately. The nurses here at the hospital have been making me do rehab and are trying to get me ready for battle again. However, there has been tons of excitement from the African Americans around the hospital. They are saying that President Lincoln has issued the Emancipation Proclamation and it is said to free all slaves that are in the Southern states. I bet this makes the Confederates extremely made about this since we have been keeping their slaves as contraband.
I know that I have not been writing a lot of entries lately. The nurses here at the hospital have been making me do rehab and are trying to get me ready for battle again. However, there has been tons of excitement from the African Americans around the hospital. They are saying that President Lincoln has issued the Emancipation Proclamation and it is said to free all slaves that are in the Southern states. I bet this makes the Confederates extremely made about this since we have been keeping their slaves as contraband.
May 6th, 1863
It has been almost two whole years since I signed up for this horrible war. Everywhere I look people are running away and trying to get out. I have thought about it for a couple weeks now, but I must see the end of this terrible war. What keeps my morale high is the stories that the older veterans tell about the famous people that are participating in this war. They talk about these people all the time and the stories are amazing, but I have know clue who they are. I have left a list here to go back and see if I can find out later who they really are.
It has been almost two whole years since I signed up for this horrible war. Everywhere I look people are running away and trying to get out. I have thought about it for a couple weeks now, but I must see the end of this terrible war. What keeps my morale high is the stories that the older veterans tell about the famous people that are participating in this war. They talk about these people all the time and the stories are amazing, but I have know clue who they are. I have left a list here to go back and see if I can find out later who they really are.
July 4th, 1863
I'm writing today because everyone is talking about this battle at Gettysburg. I though Antietam was a horrible battle with 23,000 casualties, but I have easily seen that and it is only the morning. My unit is supposed to be positioned on a high point by our General. I feel in my soul that this battle is going in our favor and not only yet, but is going to be the turning point of this horrible war. I question some of the things that our generals do, but I will never know if I could make the decisions that they have.
I'm writing today because everyone is talking about this battle at Gettysburg. I though Antietam was a horrible battle with 23,000 casualties, but I have easily seen that and it is only the morning. My unit is supposed to be positioned on a high point by our General. I feel in my soul that this battle is going in our favor and not only yet, but is going to be the turning point of this horrible war. I question some of the things that our generals do, but I will never know if I could make the decisions that they have.
November 19th, 1863
Today I have seen something miraculous. I have seen the President of the United States. I have not moved since the Battle of Gettysburg. We are here to protect the city and I believe that I will be here till the end of the war. Getting back to the President, he gave an emotional speech called the Gettysburg address. When he was talking, I wrote down every single word that he said. However, I did not know what it meant and especially the part about four scores. Was he talking about sports?
Today I have seen something miraculous. I have seen the President of the United States. I have not moved since the Battle of Gettysburg. We are here to protect the city and I believe that I will be here till the end of the war. Getting back to the President, he gave an emotional speech called the Gettysburg address. When he was talking, I wrote down every single word that he said. However, I did not know what it meant and especially the part about four scores. Was he talking about sports?
April 9, 1865
I know that it has been a long time since I have wrote in this diary. I have spent many days working hard helping with the wounded soldiers from the war. However, today everyone is shooting their guns and hooping and hollering in the streets. Today this great war has finally came to an end. I am just thanking God that I was not killed during this war. I know that this war will be talked about for centuries to come. I will be writing one more entry into my diary before I put it away in my travelling chest in the attic of my home. Home... something that I have dreamed about for years. All I can think of right now is the song I have been wanting to sing for a really long time.
I know that it has been a long time since I have wrote in this diary. I have spent many days working hard helping with the wounded soldiers from the war. However, today everyone is shooting their guns and hooping and hollering in the streets. Today this great war has finally came to an end. I am just thanking God that I was not killed during this war. I know that this war will be talked about for centuries to come. I will be writing one more entry into my diary before I put it away in my travelling chest in the attic of my home. Home... something that I have dreamed about for years. All I can think of right now is the song I have been wanting to sing for a really long time.
July 2nd, 1865