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THBSergeant Alfred Elwood, New York 108th Regiment, WIA Antietam, Gettysburg, & Cold Harbor, Civil War Diary with Gettysburg Reference
About Seller
6270 Este Ave.
Cincinnati , OH 45232
United States
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About Auction
LiveJun 13, 2014 - Jun 14, 2014
Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com
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- Lot Description
Leather-bound diary, 2.5 x 4 in., of Alfred Elwood, dated 1863, with entries for many but not all days of the year, plus a few entries from late 1862 and early 1864. Copies of various service and pension documents from the National Archives supplement the diary.
A native of England, Alfred Elwood was born July 6, 1842. He was living in Rochester, NY and working as a locksmith at the onset of the Civil War. At the age of 20, he enlisted as a Sergeant on July 24, 1862 at Rochester and was mustered into “D” Company, New York 108th Volunteer Infantry. He was fortunate enough to survive the war but was wounded at Antietam (September 17, 1862), Gettysburg (July 3, 1863) and Cold Harbor (June 2, 1864). Elwood was taken prisoner at Ream’s Station (Petersburg) but was able to quickly escape. He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant January 1, 1865 and mustered out as a 1st Lieutenant on May 28, 1865 at Bailey’s Cross Roads, VA. He died in November 1926 at the age of 84.
The NY 108th Infantry was recruited and organized at Rochester, where it was mustered into the US service for three years, August 16-18, 1862. It left the state the following day, and served in the defenses of Washington until September 6, when it was assigned to the 2nd brigade, 3rd division (French's), 2nd corps, and engaged in its first battle at Antietam.
After Antietam the regiment served at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Auburn, Bristoe Station, Mine Run, Morton's Ford, the Wilderness Spotsylvania, and Petersburg. The 108th’s final battle took place at Farmville two days before Lee's surrender. As a result of engaging in such heavy fighting, the 108th sustained losses of over 200 men during the conflict. It was mustered out under Colonel C. J. Powers, May 28, 1865, at Bailey’s Crossroads, VA.
Elwood’s diary provides a good look into the daily lives of soldiers in the thick of the fighting in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Although his reporting is a bit sporadic, one sees that life was filled with a heavy dose of the routine (rain, picket duty, inspection, cleaning, drill, etc.) and times of intense marching, movement, preparations for battle, and fighting.
There are a number of entries that provide interesting insight into 19th century military life such as: A fight between an African American civilian and one of the soldiers in camp (March 22, 1863); a visit and review from “Old Abe” Lincoln (April 7, 1863); marching back through the battle site of the first Bull Run and seeing skeletal remains scattered about (June 21, 1863); and a rather matter-of-fact rendering of being wounded at Gettysburg on July 2, 1863…got hit in the side. Capt. P. then told me to get out of the field and I did”; and a straightforward account of his 11 day furlough.
After Gettysburg, as the Union and Confederate armies meandered southward, the diary has numerous entries referencing the seemingly endless marching, waiting, and skirmishing taking place in northern Virginia.
Condition
The entries are handwritten in pencil and ink and most are dated. Diary is 2.5 X 4 inches and leather-bound. It is in very good condition.
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