My grandfather was in the Civil War, and I have a diary he kept during the time. He was among the Union soldiers in an Ohio regiment that served in Washington City and the battles of Bull Run and Antietam.
On Aug. 23, 1862, he wrote, “Went through Washington City.”
24th, “Got out of cars at Washington Station.”
26th, “Went to guard General Pope’s headquarters.”
27th, “Went to battleground that evening, the wounded still on the field, stayed on the field all night, buried the dead, then went to Bull Run.”
Sept. 17th, “Battle of Antietam.”
Oct. 3, “Visited by the President.”
June 5, 1863, “Went to Liberty where we joined Col. Wilders’ force of mounted infantry.”
June 6, “Left Liberty and started to Murfeesboro.”
June 24th, “Rained hard all day and all night, continued artillery fire.”
June 25th, “Stayed on the line all day and all night.”
28th, “General Rosencrans came in.”
July 5, “Stayed in camp and drew a part of day’s rations.”
8th, “Drew one day’s ration of bread and coffee.”
Sept. 5, “Went to Trenton, Georgia.”
Sept. 11, “Went across Lookout Mountain and drove in the Rebel pickets.”
Sept. 17, “Firing commenced early in the morning and we were ordered to the front. Firing was kept up all day.”
Sept. 19, “Battle of Chickamauga, Col. James wounded, and Maj. Adney and two Lieut. Wm. Ross of our company died.”
Sept. 20, “Second day of battle, Harrison Howel killed.”
Sept. 22, “Stayed ready for battle all day and commenced to fortify at night.”
23rd, “Worked on the fortifications nearly all day.”
24th, “Went out to reconnoiter the enemy’s position, had a heavy skirmish, heavy firing until 10 o’clock.”
Oct. 13, “Election Day, 43 votes.”
Oct. 21, “General Rosecrans left us; General Thomas took over.”
Dessie Cassity
Stratton, Colorado
Back in 1955 a call went out from the editors of the then CAPPER’s Weekly asking for readers to send in articles on true pioneers. Hundreds of letters came pouring in from early settlers and their children, many now in their 80s and 90s, and from grandchildren of settlers, all with tales to tell. So many articles were received that a decision was made to create a book, and in 1956, the first My Folks title – My Folks Came in a Covered Wagon – hit the shelves. Nine other books have since been published in the My Folks series, all filled to the brim with true tales from CAPPER’s readers, and we are proud to make those stories available to our growing online community.
