10th Illinois Civil War diary 1864 Sherman\'s March to the Sea handwritten
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10th Illinois Civil War diary 1864 Sherman\'s March to the Sea handwritten:
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SHERMAN\'S MARCH TO THE SEA
A Civil War diary 1864 Cyrus \"Scout\" Chapin later in life as Attorney at Law, Denver CO\"Witha view to break the monotony of camp life, to drive dull care away...\"
So begins thediaryofPrivate Cyrus Chapin, of the 10th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, 1stRegiment, 2nd Division, Company E, of the Army of the Cumberland. It details, in 25 well writtenand legible pages (plus a few pages with just one line) his time with GeneralSherman during the Union Army\'s battles through Georgia in 1864. It begins May 1st,near Rome. Ga., and continues onuntil June 20th, when he is wounded bya rebel sharpshooter at the Battleof Kennesaw Mountain. The diary also has two pages of receipts kept for Union Hospital#1 in Quincy, Illinois,near the rear of the book,where he recovered from his wound. There is also the beginning of a separate bloodstained letter, ongreen paper, I believe written at a field hospital after he was wounded, of which he was only able tofinish half a sentence, in a rather shaky hand. There is a break in thejournal at May 20, (page 18) and begins again June 10, with a number of blankpages in between. The journal was also used later for family accounts, and forpracticing his handwriting. There are also several separate pages of familyhistory, from a family bible, documenting births, marriages (he was marriedtwice) and deaths, and he appears on each. Above is the photo of him I foundonline, afterhe became an attorney and realtor in Denver, Coloradolater in life.
This larger than average Civil War campdiary, measuring 8 1/2\" x 7\", is very well written, and Chapin wasobviously an intelligent man.It hasa great deal of information onthe activities and fighting in Georgia.The diary began life as a journal kept bya Southernerin Rome, Georgia,and Chapin apparently acquired it after Shermanandthe Union forces hadtaken the city. The only page left from the originalSouthern ledger journal, the first page upon opening the diary, is actuallyfrom 1862, and concerns a commencement exercise ata school in Rome. The earlier pageswritten on by the Southerner have been cut out, but the page from1862luckilyremains, as, with the back of the pagebeingblank,I supposeChapin left itin the book. It creates a betterdocument this way, with the fact it begins near Rome, written in a confiscated Southernjournal...the spoils of war. I particularly like the fact he has signed theintroduction \"Scout\". The diary is so well written, in fact, Ibelieve it to be publishable.
Content is detailed andtop-drawerthroughout. It is hard to imagine a better written, or more interesting diaryfor the campaign, every page aswell written, interesting, and exciting asthe previous and following.
Every one of the 25filledpages (except the introduction page) concerns thecampaignand battles.I have transcribed the diary fairly completely... it is quite legible. I believe Chapin acquired the ledger to write his diary in as Sherman sacked Rome, Georgia, at the beginning of the campaign. He found the partially filled in ledger book there, cut out the earlier pages... but leaving in one page (shown in the images) of some commencement exercise in Rome in 1862. He then begins his diary, writing about events that happened up to the army being in Rome, while the army spent 5 days encamped there. The diary is unique in that it begins rather self aware, as Chapin (a bit patriotic and proud) knows this is an important time in history. He then continues to catch up to current events, until he is wounded at Kennesaw Mountain (or up to a few days before he is actually wounded, not writing in the diary those few days, as it rained quite heavily). He writes later in the diary from the hospital, where he may have been an orderly. The last two entry dates are most likely written at the hospital in Illinois... there is a gap of blank pages leading up to them, and he already knows his stint as a soldier is over...The final entry being;
\"20thAs the day dawned on the morning of the 20ththe rain which had been falling for several days had slackened and the weather did fair became clear and pleasant. The good fortunes which had attended Company E thus far was here to be changed about 10:00 am I rec’d a shot from a rebel sharpshooter.Thus ends my hitherto prosperous career with the Regt. as also my history of the operations to the Regt during its brilliant campaign inGeorgia,which offers fair to be the most successful of the war.
The entire diary is bracketed by the first page being the unknown Southerner\'sentry, about the school commencement, and at the end by his lists of supplies for the hospital in Illinois where he recovered.
Mentioned in the diary...
Mission Ridge, Donaldson, Shiloh, Vicksburg, KennesawMountain, Pine Mountain,Marietta,Atlanta,Rome, Oostanaula andEtowahRivers, Pumpkin Vine Creek,Dallas, Acworth
Generals George Thomas, Meade, Gilmore,Schofield, Rosecrans, McPherson, Sherman, Hooker, James D Morgan, Ward, Davis,Johnson, Blair, Howard, Dan Sickles
Death of Gen Bishop Polk by their artilleryaction against Pine Mountain
4th Corps, 23d Corps, 14th Corps, 60th Illinois
Diary and pages of family history from old bible First page of actual diary
Only remaining page in ledger book showing Rome Gaschool record from 1862
bloodstained letterCyrus Chapin Quincy Illinois Hospital No. 1
One of the hospital receipts towards the back of the diary
\"1st Div U.S. Hosp Quincy Ills\"\"Mr So and So\"\"Please furnish this Division with 1000 lbs of beefFurnish 100 lbs mutton and deduct from beef orderSignature\"_______________
Some of the pages of newspaper clippings at the rear of the diary.... tip of plain Unionribbon of some kind showing.
(The transcription of the diary portion follows...)
General Sherman’s Campaign
With the army of the Cumberland
Or items and incidents picked up by a
Private Soldier
Giving a sketch of the operations of 10th Ills
Vol Infantry of the 1st Brigade 2nd Division 14thA Corps.
With a view to break the monotonyof camp life, to drive dull care away and not to throw journalist andhistorians in the shade I take occasion to note down a few items that comeunder my surveillance, and should these feeble efforts of mine fall under theobservation of anyone who will be sufficiently interested in them, eitherthrough curiosity or otherwise to read them, I will be amply repaid for mylabors.
For rejoicing the title and honorof being a private soldier confined to the ranks only as I would play truanttake French leave of absence from my company I cannot be expected to professthe facilities for obtaining news that an army correspondent has. But trustingI may have seen and heard something that is not generally known I thus boldlyset forth.
Yours for three years,
Sunday 1st
The army of the Cumberland sodistinguished for its ignorance of defeat and whose career during the lastthree years bloody drama enacted by them in the struggle for liberty has beenone of continued success acquiring more territory then the combined armies ofMeade, Gilmore and Steel are at the above date making stupendous preparationsfor the advance upon Atlanta.
Having been comparativelyinactive since the Battle of Mission Ridge, in consequence of a great portionof the army being absent on furlough, during which time no efforts had beenspared to accumulate rations at Chattanoogafor the contemplated campaign.
The arduous duties incident topreparing for this movement of such immense magnitude devolved upon GeneralThomas who proved himself imminently fitted to the task reviewing his troops,ascertaining their strength and providing them with everything necessary for along campaign assisted by Fighting Joe Hooker of the 20th Army Corps and theone-armed Christian Howard who having relieved General Granger now commandedthe 4th Corps composed of the 20th and 21st Corpsof Rosecrans army consolidated.
General Schofield with a portionof the 23rd Corps was marching to join our left while the intrepidMcPherson with portions of the 15th and 16th was sodirecting his march from Huntsville, Alabama as to join the right.
Twas’ the morning of the 7thMay ’64 that the immense multitude of Lincoln Hirelings (so called by ourSouthern brethren) having effected a grand junction with each other move forwardfrom near Ringgold, Georgia, toward Dalton.
If I mistake not our DivisionGeneral Davies took the advance driving the rebel pickets who, however, showbut light resistance, to Tunnel Hill, at which point they show a disposition tocontest our advance. But a few well directed shots cause them to still fallback and we continuously advanced and took position upon a round top mountainwithin a mile and a half of the rebel stronghold known by our correspondent’sas Buzzard Roost but by the rebels as Mill Creek Gap.
The rebel position was simplythis, the Gap situated as it were in the apex of a triangle formed by tworanges of mountains the one turned rocky faced running north and south nearly parallelwith the R.R. terminating in an abrupt point at the gap the other being aseries of rugged mountains running nearly east and west in and around this Gapwere numerous wooden hills steep and rocky which were covered with rebelearthworks and batteries and supported by some forty thousand infantry.
The day being far advanced thetroops rested during that night and the following day except to make areconnaissance with a single Brig of some of the hills near the Gap. Gen.Sherman, Thomas, and Butterfield honored us with a visit in the afternoon ofSunday coming to take observations form the top of the summit it affording afine view of the situation of both armies.
Tis needless to say they werestared at considerably and what a contrast presented itself between those twocommanders General Sherman, quiet unassuming without a particle of dignity or bombast about him movedcarefully about carefully scanning with his piercing gray eye everything wouldthat in any way would facilitate him in the reduction of the rebel strongholdtalking in a free and easy manner with his aides and other officers present nowlooking through his telescope and occasionally dropping his head to ponder andtake a few puffs at his cigar at last takes his leave and we are none the wiseras to what will be the program or what part we will have to play.
Gen. Thomas tall and powerful hisdignified countenance bespeaking the true soldiering qualities moved slowly butwith force and precision says but little but keeps up a of deal a thinking, hisabilities are questioned by no one and we look upon him as the right man in theright place.
Monday the 9th the 2ndDiv. 14th Corps and 1st Div. 4th Corps underGeneral Stanley are advanced and heavy skirmishing is kept up all day the 25thCorps has taken position farther to the left and Hooker and McPherson andcompany are passing to the right to gain the enemy rear.
Late in the evening of the 9thwe find ourselves directly opposite the point of Rocky Face the lines ofskirmishers are advanced though with difficulty scaled the rugged side of themountain, and a continuous rattle of musketry is kept up until after dark andour men advanced far enough to be satisfied as to the folly of taking theposition by storm. General Howard, Stanley and Dan Sickles are present who if Iam rightly informed decided twas best to go slow and not sacrifice too manymen. Darkness put an end to the work and the men falling back leaving only apicket guard and slept on their arms disturbed only by an occasional stray shotthat would whistle past doing no harm. The two days following were spent innearly the same manner with slight loss to either side our skirmishers wouldadvance to within 40 paces of the summit only to be driven back by thewithering fire of the rebel sharpshooters strongly posted behind stone worksprotecting them from our fire. An effort to plant batteries upon a hill within500 yards of the top of Rocky Face failed we however succeeded in mounting twohowitzers losing nine men by the operation they opened fire with what effect Iam not able to say.
On Thursday 12th wewere relieved by the 4th Corps and marched to the right passingthrough Snake Creek Gap and bivouacked in the mud among stragglers from the 15th,16th and 20th Corps we arrived at the front line on theevening and were soon joined by Gen. Schofield and the 23rd Corps.
The 14th was spentmoving into position quite a spirited battle was fought a short distance to ourleft the rebels seemed to be making a desperate effort to turn our left.Hooker’s command was thrown to the left which interfered somewhat with thisenterprise. Several batteries were put in position and made terrible havocamong the Johnny Rebs. Sometime during the night our brig was rousted up andmoved a short distance to the right relieved Gen. Wards brig Of Hooker’s Corpsand took position on the brow of a hill 600 yards from the rebel earthworksseparated there from by a narrow valley through which ran a small stream.
Remaining a short time under armswe stacked guns and proceeded to entrench ourselves and by daylight wecompleted our work consisting of a kind of sod fence arrangement sufficient toprotect us effectually from the enemy’s musketry. Batteries had been planted oncommanding positions and the day was commenced firing at random doing as Ithink little damage. We could plainly see the rebel line of works andoccasionally a skulking Butternut could be seen. A desultory fire was kept upby sharpshooters on both sides. Two men from our Regt were wounded severely.
Night closing in upon us all wasstill save the hum of voices as is a natural consequence when men are togetherand have nothing else to do few questions were proposed to us by the Rebs, andby us to them, but neither party gained much valuable information so thedialogue was finally dropped they appeared anxious to know if we had been paidoff recently.
During the night a charge wasmade by the Rebs upon Johnson’s Div 14th Corps which was handsomelyrepulsed the firing was vigorous for a few minutes it had the effect to disturbmy rest somewhat. But the morning of the 16th which we had expectedwould be signalized by the beginning of one of the bloodiest battles of the warwe awoke to find the rebels gone flitting with the things that were.
Yes they had took their leavesilently under cover of the darkness without offerding us even the casual adieuquite a number of deserters came in to our lines glad to escape the crueltiesthey had been subjected to in the Confederate Army. They told the same oldstory of dissatisfaction and starvation in the rebel ranks. They give theConfederate force a 60,000 all told and were of the opinion that they wouldmake their last stand at Marietta.
The main army followed in thewake of the enemy while Davis’ Division 14thCorps as usual took a byroad leading to Romewhich place lay some twenty miles west of the R.R. at the junction of the Oostanaula and Etowah Riverswhere they unite and form the Coosa.
Thirty miles marching on a goodroad along the right bank of the Oostanaula River brought us to theonce flourishing city and despite the ravages of war bears marks of enterpriseand industry in its inhabitants.
The place was strongly fortifiedin garrison by three or four thousand troops who after a feeble resistanceevacuated the place after having with their own hands ruthlessly destroyedlarge amounts of stores belonging to their own misguided southern brethren.They also burned all the bridges in the vicinity and left precipitately leavingthe citizens to the tender mercies of Lincoln’s Hirelings who they had reasonto expect would show them no mercy much less sympathy.
The 3rd Brig DanMcCook’s Corps being at advancecrossed the Oostanaula and occupied the town on Wednesday the 18thcapturing a large amount of cotton, Tobacco etc., the former was probablydisposed of for greenbacks to some speculator the latter was issued as a rationto the men in the division.
Remaining at this place for 5days we passed the time quite pleasantly visiting the citizens who were verycourteous towards us dividing with us their necessaries and luxuries of lifesuch as cornbread, milk and poultry, strawberries, onions, etc…which was wisein them in as much as we would have taken both chairs had they showed adisposition to treat us coldly. Rome is a pleasant place tis situated in theheart of a beautiful country comparatively fertile and is noted for itsmanufacturers several large mills besides foundries and salt works have beencarried on extensively until quite recently but Grant’s strategies movement ofSherman’s Yankee army put a damper on their operations causing them to suspendand the place is to all experiences dead pro tempore although we read that ittook Rome 900 years to die!! Tis also suggested that when you are in Rome do as Rome does whichis vice versa as regards to 2nd Division for we when in Rome force the inhabitantsto do as we done, or rather calmly to aoffere by the terms of General Orders.
On Wednesday 24thhaving completed pontoons across both rivers and thrown the entire div. acrosswe marched southward to Limestone Springs forming a junction with McPherson’s’command where we remained all night resuming the march on the morning of the 25th.Our course was rather east of south through a miserable poor country coveredwith pines forest with a wretched cabin surrounded by a diminutive field oneither side of the road at intervals along the route. These humble residenceswere generally graced with a rustic country woman with a pipe in her mouthstanding at the door looking wonderingly at the vast multitude of Yankees whileclinging to her or standing near her could be seen a dozen more or less dirtybut healthy looking children. Of course she was a widow her husband being inthe army with a view to drive back the ruthless invaders and protect his ownhearthstone or rather protecting the rich man’s nigger!!
On the 26th we moved afew miles farther and occupied Dallas a small town on Pumpkin Vine Creek some30 miles from Atlanta we encountered some rebels who fell back before ourskirmishers showing little disposition to contest our advance.
On Friday 29th we wereordered hurriedly into ranks and ordered forward we double quicked across afield and formed a line beneath the brow of a hill Company B and C were thrownforward as skirmishers. We advanced cautiously past our own skirmishers whobeing thus relieved fell to the rear we had advance probably 60 paces when weencountered the Rebs who were dressed in blue clothes which gave them a chanceto fall back firing to the rear as they retreated and through the brush theywould be mistaked for our own men. But discovering the trick at last we drovethem pell mell across to their fortifications with a loss of one prisonerbesides several wounded.
We were soon halted having gonebeyond our orders and reforming our line occupied the ground during the dayexchanging shots with the enemy at intervals which had the effect torender (?) combat five men from the twocompanies were killed and four wounded.
Heavy firing was heard all day toour left in front of Hooker, Howard and Johnson the 15th and 16thCorps on our right kept up a noise and so it is mini balls are turnips all thetime. We are relieved by the 1st Mich. at dark and return to the Regt.
On Saturday the 28ththe enemy made a charge on Sweeney’s div. 16th Corps capturingseveral pieces of artillery but confident of victory flushed with their partialsuccess pushed a little too far and were gobbled up by the heroes of Donaldson,Shiloh, and Vicksburg. The results being decidedly in favor of the Feds.
On the morning of 1stJune we were surprised to find the entire Federal force our Div includedfalling slowly back and marching by the left flank the Rebs followed closelykeeping a respectable distance however until we had passed some 6 miles to thenortheast following the main road from Dallas to Acworth a small station of theR.R. some 10 miles from Marietta.
Separated from the main army by agap some 2 miles intervening between our Div and Hooker we had heard but littleregarding the movements of the corps of Hooker, Howard and Schofield but thethousands of wounded in several hospitals along this road and the numerousfresh graves confirmed the reports of the heavy losses sustained by thesecorps.
We took position on the left ofthe 4th Corps remained 2 days during which time there was fewchanges effected except the weather which suffered quite a change sending rainin copious quantities which proved more beneficial than agreeable insinuatingitself through our dog tents causing us to experience the sensations particularto a shower bath.
Remaining two nights in this positionwe again moved to the left and finally joined our corps on the same day thecharge was made by the enemy immediately at the point which we had justevacuated but it proved disastrous to the Rebs for the ever vigilant ChristianSoldier Howard met them charged them back beyond their own line.
The weather continued rainingunfavorable for offensive operations and both armies occupied nearly the samepositions until the morning of the 5th we were somewhat surprised todiscover the enemy had disappeared from our front.
On the 6th the entirearmy moved to the left and took up position on the road leading from Dallas to Acworth our left resting near the R.R. the rightsome 6 miles southwest fronting the rebel position which is now several milesdistant on the road to Atlanta.
And in this position we findourselves on the 9th of May (actuallythe 9th of June) having been comparatively inactive for 3 daysthe rattle of musketry has ceased and it seems so odd and out of place to bepermitted to take off cartridge belts, coats and shoes by snuggling down underour dog tents and enjoy a good old fashioned nights rest without the accustomedfear of being called out at the hour of midnight to greet the miscreant Rebs.The weather continued raining unfavorable.
(Here ensues a gap of a number ofpages… perhaps he is now at the hospital)
Continued from page 18.
Not withstanding the inclemencyof the weather the column moved forward at 7:00 am and took up the line ofmarch in a southEasterly direction marching at intervals and haltingoccasionally to mail until the long trains of army wagons could wind themselvesthrough the dense wooded hills. The rain continued falling almost incessantlyrendering the roads almost impassable for artillery or army wagons. About4:00pm the sound of cannon greeted our ears and we hurried forward and formedline directly on the left of Howard’s 4th Corps. Directly in ourfront lay an open field about 1 mile in width beyond which there are rows graduallya succession of hills or ridges affording ample advantages for the defense.
10th
It was ascertained however thatthe rebels were gradually falling back intending to make one desperate stand atKennesaw Mountainnear Marietta.
11th
At 10:00 am the div. of Davis moved to the left adistance of 2 miles formed in columns of div. and moved forward. Near night wehalted at a distance of 8 miles from Kennesaw there we remained for severaldays the almost incessant rain rendering campaigning out of the question.
12th
The comparative stillness whichhad reigned in our front for several days was destined to be broken. About10:00 am we were ordered forward without knapsacks and it was well known thatthere must be work ahead. But whether at any distant period we could onlyconjecture. The column moved forward slowly and cautiously toward Kennesaw.After going a short distance I ascertained that the load in my gun had beenpreviously wet and was obliged to fall out which caused me to be left behindsome distance. After carefully drying my gun I started on double quick toovertake the command. After going but a mile I learned that the brigade hadtaken another road. This added to my discomfiture and I retraced my steps in agreater hurry than I came. Taking the direct road, I came upon the Regt a shortdistance ahead where it had been resting for half an hour. The skirmishershaving advanced some distance, the column was ordered up to build breastworks.After considerable maneuvering the line was finally established breastworkswere thrown up and all was quiet in our front save the usual picket firingwhich was kept up almost incessantly day and night increasing and decreasing inimportance alternately in according to the apprehension of the alarmed pickets.
The center having been pushedforward in advance of each wing we were obliged to lay still for several daysto await the cooperation of Howard and Hooker and Blair and Schofield who werepushing the enemy on the right and left respectively.
13th
For several days after this linewas established nothing of interest occurred in our immediate front. Directlyon the right of our brigade commanded by James D. Morgan a battery had beenplanted which kept up occasional firing on the enemy’s position which was nowsome two miles in advance. Beyond them was frowning Kennesaw rising some 1500’above the common level on either side of which a succession of hills and ridgesran parallel to our position. Between our positions and that of the enemy wereinnumerable hills hollows and ravines affording advantages for defense seldomfound.
14th
(After a gap of a number ofpages, the diary begins again)
18th
At 9:00 am it having beenascertained that the rebels had withdrawn from our front our brigade wasordered forward in support of the skirmishers. In our advance many prisoners weretaken also some who came in to our lines voluntarily and gave themselves upfrom them we learned of the death of Gen. Bishop Polk who was killed by one ofour shells on Pine Mountain some daysprevious. We also learned that the rebels had withdrawn their entire force to Kennesawintending to make one desperate effort before yielding to us the immeasurablestrength to which the mountain possessed. Although the rebels tested the groundstubbornly yet by 1:00pm they had been forced back within their entrenchmentson Kennesaw where they occupied a very lofty position looking downcontemptuously quietly waiting for us to make an assault on their elevatedposition supposing of course we would be foolish enough to make one.
During the afternoon severalwounded men were brought back among whom was the Capt of Company B 60thIlls who had rec’d a very dangerous wound in his head.
20th
As the day dawned on the morningof the 20th the rain which had been falling for several days hadslackened and the weather did fair became clear and pleasant. The good fortuneswhich had attended Company E thus far was here to be changed about 10:00 am Irec’d a shot from a rebel sharpshooter.
Thus ends my hitherto prosperouscareer with the Regt. as also my history of the operations to the Regt duringits brilliant campaign in Georgiawhich offers fair to be the most successful of the war.
Inserted in diary the beginnings of blood stained, foldedletter to his sister…
“Hospital
Sister Willa,
It is under great disadvantage…”
Apparently written in a field hospital after receiving hiswound, and he could not complete more than one sentence.
There follows two pages of hospitalrecords/accounts under “1stDiv. USGen Hosp Quincy Ills. Sept 12th 1864”
Several pages of Civil War newspaperclippings pasted in the back
10th Illinois Civil War diary 1864 Sherman\'s March to the Sea handwritten:
$999.00