October 2013 Auction Ends Tuesday, October 29th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/29/2013
Riveting Civil War diary written by a soldier from the 8th Division of the Army of the Ohio. Diary by an anonymous soldier under the command of Major General James S. Negley contains his accounts of his company's armed confrontations and violent skirmishes as well as reports of picket duty, foraging for food and camp life. From Nashville on 28 September 1862, the soldier writes, "…At five o'clock p.m. some reble cavalry dressed in our uniforms came up to the outpost of No. 7 & the sentinel on duty challenged them. They did not pay any attention to it and our boys (4 in number) made preparations to fire when the commander asked them if they was agoing to fire on their own men, and they came up and pointed their carbines and leveled them at our boys and demanded their arms or they would blow their brains out. They was obliged to deliver out their arms. When that was done, they ordered them to get on behind them, but instead of that the boys broke and run into some bushes. By that time the reserve saw what was going on and they commenced to fire…A flag of truce came in and demanded a immediate unconditional surrender. General Negley sent back word that he would not surrender, that he was going to hold the place as long as he could..." Recounting the Battle of Murfreesboro, he writes, "…and then came the conflict. Our Regt made one desperate charge and put the enemy to flight and drove them behind their fortifications. Just as we had crossed the river and got up on the opposite bank, a stray shot took me in the left thigh…" The author was transported to Nashville to recover, where he stayed for three months, followed by a month-long stay in Louisville, then to New Albany where "…I enjoyed myself very well…" The diary ends with a scribbled note dated 31 July 1863, "…I got on a little [drunken] Spree…" Diary runs 64pp. on 33 ruled leaves. Measures 3" x 5.75". Diary covers are detached. Toning, soiling and dampstaining. Very good overall.
Thrilling Civil War Diary by a Soldier WIA at Murfreesboro -- "…pointed their carbines and leveled them at our boys and demanded their arms or they would blow their brains out…"
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