Civil War Diaries of 30th MA Infantry and 5th NY Cavalry

About Auction

Live

Treasures of the Civil War: Premier Auction

By Cowan's Auctions

Oct 31, 2018

Set Reminder 2018-10-31 10:00:00 2018-10-31 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Treasures of the Civil War: Premier Auction https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/cowans/treasures-of-the-civil-war-premier-auction-3522
Cowan's is honored to present the Magnificent Sword Collection of William Koch in its two-day firearms, militaria, and American history auction. Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com

View Full Catalog (335)

• Lot Description
  Civil War Diaries of 30th MA Infantry and 5th NY Cavalry
  
  

  Lot of 2 diaries.
  
  Leather pocket notebook, 3 x 6 in., with flap, wallet pocket in back cover, identified to Charles T.S. Pierce, 5th NY Cavalry. The notebook contains entries made in pencil, some from mid-August 1863, a section that appears to be personal lists of correspondents, books, etc., and a Roll of Co. G, 5th NY Cavalry. The military diary begins May 6, 1864 and goes through July 1 (bottom of page notes " other book ," which unfortunately is not present). Pages dating from August 10-13, 1863 are missing. Others are loose but present. A number of pages have smeared text.
  
  Although the notebook only contains a couple months of entries from Pierce, they are very detailed and descriptive. May 6, for example: " 7:00 AM Canonading commenced this morning at about 5. Gen. Burnside's fore came up this morn and marched directly to the front. 1500 Rebels taken May 5th and this morning two Regiments were taken by surprise and captured. The 109th NYSV [ New York State Volunteers ] came in with Burnside this AM.
  9:30 Heavy musketry firing continuously together with artillery. The Brigade of Rebs were taken prisoner. 10.00: 104 Prisoners taken on the left wing. firing ceased 10.30. the 6th Corps broke and run, were Rallied at Wilderness Church and taken in again. Firing commenced again at 11.00 lasting till 11.40 ceased till 4.45 except one in a while as little and slight skirmishing 4.55 PM Heavy firing commenced again hard fighting ensued several charges made the Prisoners sent in of yesterdays fight amount to 9100
  6.15 Charging on the right flank our forces driven back. The wagon train moved back - and artillery forward. Our cavalry was ordered up to stop the men from running back
  7.00 All quiet."
  
  May 9: " Gen Sedgwick was killed today. Gen Hooker lost 700 men prisoners & took 1100. Made an exchange of prisoners, 1000 Rebs for 700 Union men ... 18 Penna. Va. made a charge on Spottsylvaina and took 1500 Prisoners."
  
  May 13: " Staid on the Chancellorville battle ground all night. Gen Grant reported have taken 3 Big Gens. of the Rebs & one Maj."
  
  May 21: " at 8.45 AM went thro the town and countermarched west toward the Milford R.Road Station and soon came in contact with the Rebs. After a sharp fight of 1 1/2 hours we drove them from the station with but little loss on our side. from our Co. one John Vandermark. we lived pretty well on the fat of the village ....
  6.20 PM crossed the Massapanax River flanking the enemy.
  11.00 PM We (our Co. & H) are ordered to go over to Gen. Meades H'd Qr's with dispatches met Mosby on the way but we shunned him as best we could after a short fight & arrived at Station at 4.25 AM."
  
  On May 22, he moved to Bethel Church, referencing nearly continual fighting every day. On June 2, the regiment is sent as escort to an ambulance train, advancing to Salem Church the following day, with a few "quiet" days on the 9th and 10th.
  
  June 11: " Reveille at 2.25 AM orders to pack up everything. whole Brig went out together with the Artillery and engaged Longstreets Corp driving them back and hold the position till the Infantry comes up..."
  
  June 18: " Start at 8.15 AM after breakfast back to Prince George Ct. House at Blackwater on Picket...Heavy canonading and musketry on our right in the direction of Petersburg."
  
  June 21: " Hard fighting in direction of Petersburg. Rec'd orders at Regimental H'd Q'rs to be ready to start tomorrow - rations dealt out for five days for men and two for horses- considerable bustle in camp preparing."
  
  June 29: " At 3:10 this AM hard fighting commences again...Gen. Wilson's com'd hold then at bay while the ambulances and baggage/supply train pass on ahead toward Reams Station during the fight of this AM the most of the 2d Brigade were in the fight dismounted and were captured by the enemy. after going to within 2 1/2 m. of Reams S. we engage the foe again. They open on the advance guard from a musket battery -with canister - we advance more on their works - but find they have Infantry & Cavalry in overpowering numbers. And after making a good trial our men cease operations... The men begin to see that we are surrounded & the question goes from one to the other wonder 'what's to be done.' but the question was soon answered for at about 12.20 as I came out of the woods I saw the Blacksmith Forge on fire. The supply train getting together share the same fate. & next our sick and wounded, what's to become of them? leave them in hands of enemy... and then commences the retreat or I should say stampede one living moving mass of human beings started off at a common pace but soon it was quickened to the top speed of every horse. The road and fields of either side were one panic stricken demoralized moving column among the rest one piece of Artillery was brought out of the ? where it had been with us. We were bout 1 mile north part of the Rowanty Creek where the retreat commenced. I could but think & look upon it with horror little thinking I was to witness worse - on reaching Stony Creek the enemy not being in strong force rapidly pursuing the scattered fragment of Reg'ts men formed east of the River to make a stand. Men were seen forming in rank with no arms, some no ammunition having lost or thrown away one the other or both in the general meelee of the hour before - soon the report of arms of our skirmishers tell us they are coming and we make preparations ...we again turn & ??? men and beasts partaking as it seemed of the spirit of their riders strained every nerve to gain the opposite bank. Some crowded the bridge others plunge headlong down the rocky & precipitous bank. Some were crowded off the bridge, horses riderless & men unhorsed making every effort to gain the shore while around them fell the bullets of the enemy like hail in a hailstorm. Efforts were made on the opposite shore to rally and hold the bridge but to no effect...God forbid that my eyes should ever behold another such a scene..."
  
  HDS shows Pierce enlisting in February 1864 as a private, but the listing of men in the company suggests he may have had other duties. He was mustered into Co. G of the 5th NY Cavalry and mustered out in August 1865.
  
  The second diary is from an unidentified soldier, and is a typical pocket " Diary and Memorandum Book for 1862 ," 3 x 5 in., with three dates per page and a small space for notes. On one of the " Memo " pages at the end, the author summarizes the year. From the history and events he mentions (especially Captain Ferris taking over a company and General Bullock resigning) plus where the unit was stationed, this would appear to be a member of the 30th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Ferris likely refers to Alexander Marsh Ferris who enlisted in February 1862. The 30th MA had already formed in autumn of 1861, although there was a delay in them mustering in because of conflict between Governor Andrew and General Benjamin Butler, who organized several units with plans to capture New Orleans as part of the "Anaconda Plan" to divide the Confederacy. In addition to the 30th MA, the 26th MA and 9th CT were organized at or transported to Camp Chase, Lowell, MA, then all boarded the USS Constitution for the Gulf, landing at Ship Island.
  
  The unidentified soldier notes on January 2: " Left Camp Chase very cold Gen. Butler presented over colors stood on the common until nearly froze went on board Constitution at 9 1/2 PM."
  
  There were stops along the way, notably Fortress Monroe. January 16: "arrived at Fortress Monroe at about 10 AM pleasant found Frigates Roanoke, Minnesota, Colorado, and several Gun boats..."
  
  He does begin each day with a weather update - cold, pleasant, stormy, etc. It would be February 6th before they would leave Fortress Monroe for Ship Island. He notes passing Key West on the 11th and arriving at Ship Island on the 12th. While there he notes many other ships coming and where they are going (and what kind they are - brig, sloop, schooner, barque, etc.), suggesting his home was a New England seaport.
  
  By February 19: " Constitution sailed with 20 of the Mechanics on board." On March 12, the Constitution returned with the 4th WI, 21st IN, 6th MI on board. The troops were gathering for the push up the Mississippi. A lot of activity in early April. He notes in his summary that Forts Jackson and [St.] Philips surrendered on the 8th. These were the primary defenses of New Orleans.
  
  On April 16th the regiment shipped out. April 28: " Started up the Riv. to take possession of the Fort ..." May 3: " Marched through City to the Odd Fellows Hall took Possession ." May 10: ". ..still armed. whole company went on Patrol slept on arms, large amount of money seized by Gen. Butler.. ." May 16: " Butler orders making every secesh woman who expresses her sentiments a prostitute ."
  
  May 30: " Rec'd orders to go up the Riv. to Vicksburg... went on board steamer Miss ." June 1: "... landed at arrival at 10 AM no breakfast or dinner only tea & H. Bread took poss. of State House our Reg. colors first union flag to float in the city over the state house captured ___ (?)"
  
  At times this diary is light and difficult to read. For most of the remainder of the year this unit moved back and forth from Baton Rouge (July 26) to Vicksburg, back to Baton Rouge (late August), back to New Orleans (October). This soldier, like so many others, also spent weeks during the autumn in the hospital with illnesses. It is not certain what he had, but at the end is at least one formula for a diarrhea "cure." Various forms of this were quite common in the crowded, unsanitary conditions of military camps.
  
  December 18: received pay, "... Genl. Butler reviewed the Reg. and bade us farewell ..."

  Condition

  Both with surface soil and light toning. The first has some loose pages; the second seems to be holding together. Boards not faring quite as well. Second with flaking. But these were working diaries, handled nearly every day.
• Shipping Info

  • Buyers are required to pay for all packing, shipping and insurance charges. Overseas duty charges are the responsibility of the successful Bidder. Be aware that for larger and/or valuable items, shipping charges can be substantial. - If there is no shipping amount on listed your invoice, you will need to make arrangements to pick up or ship your purchase through an alternative shipping company. Our shipping department can be contacted at 513.871.1670 (ext. 219) or email shipping@cowans.com. - Shipping charges include insurance for your order while in transit. If you have private insurance we will adjust your charge to include only packing and shipping. - Please allow 14 – 21 days after payment to package and ship your purchase as carefully as possible.

• Buyer's Premium

  • Hammer Price	Premium (%)
    $0	20.00
    $500,000	15.00