December 2013 Auction Ends Tuesday, December 17th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/17/2013
Handwritten Civil War diary by Private Wilmot A. Mills of Company G, 55th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Mills, as one of the so-called "Sherman's Bummers", chronicles his participation in Sherman's March, the notorious path of destruction through the South led by Sherman. Signed diary features 22 dated entries beginning in Savannah City, Georgia in November of 1864 and running rather consistently through March of 1865 at Bentonville, NC. Mills appears to maintain his morale by making a habit of beginning every entry with, "It has been a very pleasant day…" regardless of the conditions he describes after the sentence. Highlights, uncorrected for spelling errors, read in part, "…It has been a very pleasant day, but rained some in the evening. The first thing in the morning the rebles commenced to shell us on the left flank and then moved over to the right. We had one man wouned and they had three kiled and several wouned and they got one prisner. We got three…I went to the doctor this morning and he treated me for the fevor but this was no train goin north, so I came back to the rigement and if nothing happens to me, will go on picket in the morning. Last evening this was a fire over in town burned halfh a dozen buildings and they ar trying to find out who set it a fire. It was don aganest orders and they offor five hundred dollars to find out who set it a goin…We have got orders to be ready to move at seven in the morning and have drawn our racions four days, hard bread, three of meat, five of sugar, and teen of coffee and salt…left camp at five this morning and wen up to a town called Social Circle and tore up the rail road track and rested to work all the afternoon tairing up the track and then started for camp…came up to Madison, the countie seat of Morgin, Co and tore up the rail roads track…We ar having a hard march…The rebles burnt the brig and we had to put down a pontune brig a crost the river. They have been fighting some all day. Last night we captured some prisners in the swamp. Twelve in number…We started on our march in the morning, went within five miles of Savanna. Thir was cannonading all day…I have just eight months to serve from to day…Our picket line is in sight of the rebles brest works and they through grape and canester at them while on guard but they don't do much harm. It is in thick woods…They have been fighting a bout the same as they have for the last to or three days. We have been short for racions, draw nothing but rise, salt and leaf. So a couple of us and my self went out yesterday and killed a cow that we found in the woods…The first news this morning was that Savannah was taken and it proved to be true. We moved up to the town. I toock ten prisners up to division head quarters…Had a battle. It lasted all day and the rebles retreated after dark…Had a battle…They drove us in the morning and we them in the evening…The fighting still continues. They fell back last night too miles and left thir dead on the fieald…" The final entry reads, "If killed on this train I leave all my propperty to the lady that is a long with us in a black silk dress. This the sixteanth day of Agust, eighteen hundred and sixty five." It is signed, "Wilmot A Mills". Diary runs 50pp., with writing on both sides of the leaves. Bound in brown leather boards measuring 3.75" x 6". Cracking to hinges and overall foxing and toning, else near fine given age and the fact of its having been kept in the soldier's possession through weather and battle. A fine firsthand account of Sherman's March.
Civil War Diary From Wilmot A. Mills in the 55th Ohio During Sherman's March -- "…burned halfh a dozen buildings…ar trying to find out who set it a fire. It was don aganest orders…"
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