CIVIL WAR DIARY OF LESTER C. HILDRETH of LOWELL MICHIGAN William N. Harding Manufacturer of albums and Bibles No 326 Chestnut Street Philadelphia Winneconne Winnbaga Co. Wisconsin Clothing List 1865 1 pair shoes 1 Blouse 2 shirts 1 cavelry coat Gen. Miles Bugler Jan 10 Pork 5 5 5 1 Beef 3 3 6 3 3 H Bread 4 4 Beans 10 10 5 Rice Coffee 10 10 11 Shugar 10 10 11 Vinegar Candles 10 10 11 Soap 10 10 11 Salt 10 10 D Aples 5 5 5 Potatoes 5 5 5 S Bread 2 2 5 2 2 3 2 Peper 7 7 Molases 10 10 31 Lester C. Hildreth Co I 26 Mich Vols Rivers Hildreth Lowell L. C. Hildreth Co I 26 Mich Lester C. Hildreth Bugaler Lowell Kent Co. Michigan 1st Brigade 1st Division and 2nd A.C. Lester C, Hildreth Lowell Kent Co Mich Stephen Hibs Henry Hillir One Watch From June 20th 1863 Took the cars from Suffold at 600 Pm arived at norfolk on the James River 120c midnight , very tierd took Steam Boat for york town on the peninsula arived their 120c next day Being saturday piched tents. Sunday June 22ond '63 Camp in the noted peach orchard took a look around Saw mclelands spaid work and meny other curiosities traveled over the ground wheir lord cornwalase surenderd. Saw the trea that calafornia Joe killed the nigar, a noted Red sharpsooter. in Monday June 23 '63 Took up line of march for williams Burg left our knapsacks Behind arived arived at wms 3 at 50c p.m. Tuesday June 24th '63 Left wms. B. at 50c. p. m. as we passed through the city the Boys played dixie which made them look cross, saw prety galls and lots of nigs, and Williams an Marys Colage, halted at hill plesant 8miles out at 10 evening very tierd Wednsday June 25th '63 Took up line of march at 90c. A.M. Halted at mcvain ville a distence of 10 miles from Wms B. prety country Bud desolated by the Rebs Thursday June 26th Took up line of march at 79c A.m. Halted at 30c pm at Cumberland landing on the pumonkey River drew three days Rations of hard tack Fryday June 27th 1863 Took up line of march of 90c Am arived at White House at noon a distence of 5 miles the Roads ar very Bad and we had trouble to get our artilary over, piched our tents on the Cortus estate in a clover fiels containing 3 thousand acres of nice clover. This is the place wheir washington got his wife. It is now confiscated from old lee, all that Remains of the hous is the chimeny, it wos burned By Mclelands army to keepe it from the Rebs. The inhabitents hear ar all nigs left to hold and sea to things Saturday June 28th Remained in camp all day awaiting order geting Reinforsements all the time. wther very worm Sunday June 29th Laid still all day nothing hapened worthy of note Monday June 30th '63 Had a chill of the ague Recd marching orders down tords wrichmond Tuesday July the 1st 1863 Took up line of march going to Richmond Halted after a march of 10 miles for the night called into line of Batle to fight old wise But he wos wise enough to get out of our sight after a fue rounds of grape and canister suported a Batery at Baltimore cross Roads Wednsday July 2ond '63d Pulled up stakes and fel Back 4 miles double Quick to prevent a Rear moovement But wer more sceared than hurt for wise skedadled in the night prvious Halted and took Breakfast and pitched tents and make a stand Night of July 2ond Called into line of Batle Kept up sharp skirmishing all night casualities small Thursday July 3rd '63 Laid still expecting an atact laid on arms all night Fryday July 4th '63 Had a blackBery pie diner Baked bya a S iresh lady we Rube and I picked the Beries. Eeat it in thehot sun Saturday July 5th '63 Sounded the alarm and fell in a great scear laid in line all da in the hot sun go sweaty Sunday July 6th '63 Pickets dirven in fell in and squaired of for them, But a fue shall from our 20 pounders set them to flying Monday July 7th '63 Layed in the sun all day very hot and uncomfertable no Rebs show themselvs to day Tuesday July 8th '63 Took up line of counter march in the direction of york town at 900 A.m. marched 18 miles under old keys,the old coward, mud knee deep. Got the news of the fall of vixburgh loud and harty, chears from the boys Halted at 90c evening tierd out Wednsday July 9th '63 Took up line of march at 80c A,m marched another 18 miles. Let 4 miles in the Rear with sore feete. Halted at 9 pm as ordinary Thursday July 10th '63 Fell in and started of at 70c Am Let caught the Regt just as they had started But wos soon in the rear very laim laid down side of the road at 90c Am and took a snooze got up at 11 and pushed on two miles to fort megender made a cup of tea and drank it, arrived at york town at 7pm brushed and want to go home a soldier no longer to Be. Fryday July 11th '63 Recd orders to Report to the city of washington forth with Struck tents at 8oc A.M. left peach orchard at 9 to take the Boat. layed on the dock all day awaiting transportation, recd two leters one from John and the other from write all wel at home. got boerd the steamer at 9oc evening Tryed to sleap on a rope But could not Saturday July 12th '63 left the dock at yorktown at 3oc in the morning very much out of conciet of soldiering Struck into the chesapeak Bay at noon. Boys in good spirits point look out at 1oc p.m. Enterd the mouth of the potomac at 3 p.m. Boys very tierd and sleapy comenses Raining. Sunday July 13th '63 Arived at washington at 0oc Am wet and Hungry, Brought 3 pies of an Irish woman and et them at the sight of them Monday July 14th '63 Recd order to Report to Fredric city in the state of MD. awaiting transportation orders countermanded Tuesday July 15th '63 Ordered to go to NY city to put down coper head Riot took the Cars at 70c p.m. Break in the rail road 6miles out of the city of washington had to wait. for them to repair it got underway at 2 p.m. arived at Baltimore at 7oc p.m. marched to the Baltimore and Phelidelphia depot took the train at 10oc pm. Wednsday July 16th 1863 Passed through Wilmington at 40c morning very prety city arived a Pheladelphia at 60c Am. splendid city. Dun ample justice to a good Breakfast. Saw prety children they make me think of my dorah. Simon petit has on each knee. crassed the delewar at 10oc Am. on a ferry Boat took the Camden and amboy cars for amboy city, passed through Butiful Country and towns saw no ugly faces. seams like Home Crops look good as wel as fruit Reached the city of amboy at at 2oc pm took the Steamer for the great metropoly.landed at the foot of Brawdway at 6oc pm very tierd. saw no Rioters, and met with no oposition Thursday July 17th '63 Went out to putt down Riot , But could not sea it. great scear Ny a big thing on wheals Fryday July 18th '63 Mooved Quarters to the arsnel no 53 North St. Recd a Barel of the bestg of Hot koffa from the great shugar dealer, stewart. Sunday July 19th '63 A sunday in the Big Sunday Writen a teter to my fater X no Roxs yet great scear. Monday July 20th'63 Nothing transpiering to day worthy of not streats full of people Tuesday July 21 st '63 Another quiet day passed off no signs of riot ancious to hav some excitement, drawing new clothing, the citizens take a great fancy to our Regiment they think we ar a very respectable lot of men Wednsday July 22ond '63 Canot sea the city their is so meny houses. we ar kept very close dont no at whot moment we may be called to meet the skunks or coper Heads, they are afraid of the michigan soldiers. Thursday July 23rd '63 Had the cick headach want to go home dont want to be a soger no more. got the Blues, got a leter from Margret Fryday July 24th '63 Morgan reported anielated good news generalv drawn a new dress coat and pants. Had a colecy morbus. Recd leter from father H Saturday July25th '63 Layed in bunk all day not fealing very wel worm day Sunday July 26th'63 Went up Brawdway and got some oysters and a glass of loger Bier, then took a glass of Bier, saw meny things and lots of people Mostof the company went to church. Monday July 27th '63 Nothing hapened worth note the cinging and praying class of people came to sing and pray with our good men had a good time Tuesday July 28th '63 Layed around and thought of the future and how I should like to get home once more, out of money and haint got any tobaco got plenty Blews Wednsday July 29th '63 7oc p.m. the fier Bells ar wringing and the engins ar going fiers ar very comon. suposed to be the work of coper heads Thursday July 30th '63 My principal living is Buter milk and Bread, talk of gooing to michigan soon cant sea it yet Fryday July 31st '63 Company I ordered to sandy hook to preform garison duty Want to go with them But cant, got the Blues, Helth good. out of money August Saturday August 1st '63 Co I with 4 others cos left on detached duty Co E to ontario county Co I and H to sandy hook Sunday August 2th '63 Got orders to go to Staten Island to Gurad for wrichmond a distence of 7 miles and one of the nicest places in the world. like the order took the Boat at 60c pm arived their at 7oc pleased with the future prospect a very sightly place. tis on the sea coast and opiset of forts Lafiet and Hamilton fort wrichmond is a small fort But formeable one this Isl is inhabited by wrich hulsale merchants of Ny city. Monday Aug 3rd '63 Took a look at the Island forts, large guns, and meny of them the largest carys 500 pound shot, forts ar Built of stone and Iron walls 10 feete thick suposed to be perfeecly Impregnable Tuesday Aug 4th '63 Took up Quarters at the Qms department with Rube get good fair Location very Helthy Wednsday Aug 5th '63 Writen leter to wes fox nothing ocoured worthy of note very worm Thursday Aug 6th '63 Took a Boat ride across the Bay to long Island, Visited fort Hamilton and fort Lafiet, Hamelton mounts nearly 200 guns lafiet the same. magaziens 10 feete under ground and strongly Built Fryday August 7th '63 Layed in camp all day wether worm. non comishiond officerers comensed drilling in heavy artilery practice, they ar much pleased with it Saturday Aug 8th '63 All quiet wether worm and sultry dont feal very wel took a pill for diereah Sunday August 9th '63 Raised the Stars and Stripes in our camp. out of money and want to sea the paymaster Monday Aug 10th '63 Admarel Faraget his wife and one son passed this point to day enrout for Ny city a salute wos fierd from this fort of 100 guns in respect to his noble honer Tueday august 11th '63 Hot day Boys out on drill. weighed byself helth weit 135 Rube and I went to the city of Clifton a prety place 1 mile from camp met a man on the side walk that wos going to Bust me But I could not se it Wednsday Aug 12th '63 Rube went to the city and from their to sandy hook. Major Odonalds wife wos hear to day on a visit she is to return to morow Thursday Aug 13th '63 Got the blues, Rube Returned from sandy hook and had bean soup for diner. had a lady to take tea with us. QMs wife. Fryday Aug 14th '63 Mooved into Barocks. Rube expects fourlow he has go the Blues through fear that he wont get Saturday Aug 15th '63 Great excitement over the Reported fall of Charlston. Salutes fierd on the ocasion Dr. Raymond arived at the fort Sunday Aug 16th '63 A long day. Bob finly Burned up a ketle of soop which caused to swear. Rainy afternoon Monday Aug 17th '63 Went to the city of NY Rube bought his transportation ticket paid 813.87 cts for it offics no 172 Brawd way staid in the city all night had a good time Tuesday Aug 17th '63 Rube took the cars at 7oc am for lowell and I the Boat at 8 a.m. for sandy hook feal wel but want to go home plesant trip to sandy very worm Boat ran slow arived their at 11oc am Wednsday Aug 19th '63 Remained at the hook all day and no paymaster yet. pass run out But dont cair. Boys most of them wel Thursday Aug 20th '63 Got up in the morning and went down on the beach to gather shells paymaster com payed me and I start for the Regiment. arive in Ny at 8oc in the evening Stayed at the new Ingland soldiers aid society all night Fryday Aug 21st '63 Went to Barnums great show saw meny curiosities for 25 cts saw meny things went all over the city called at the Astor House Big thing. think he must be wrich. Sun. took the Boat for camp at Six oclock satesfied with my stroll in the city arived in camp at dark all rite Saturday Aug 22nd '63 Got a new comander By the name of Col How. an old Regular, dont like him Wether worm had clams for super good news from the south Sunday Aug 23rd '63 Copied the foregoing had clam soope and regimental inspections feal wel, but haint got no clean shirt. Had divine service in the afternoon By a stranger Monday Aug 24th '63 Recd an entier new program as folows Revelee 5 A.m Cick Call 5.30 Breakfast call 6.00 Fatigue 6.30 Recall 7.15 Troope 7.30 Guard mount 8.00 Co Drill 8.30 Recall 9.45 Non comishioned officrs Artilery 10 to 11.30 Orderlys Call 12 N. Diner 12 5 co or Betalion drill 4 pm Recall 5.30 Retreat Sunset Tatoo 8.45 Taps 9 Tuesday August 25th '63 Went through with the Regular program saw the monitor wyoming on hur way to Charlston. Rains By spells worm and sultry Wednsday Aug 26th '63 Recd leter from margret, John and Mr. wright monroe wos hear from sand hook. estel came with him Report of the fall of sumpter and the Bombardment of Charlston. Lieut wilson geting wel Thursday aug 27th '63 Mailed leter to wesley preformed daly duty talked of going home on the 9 mos call prospects rather dark got bad cold Report of the Shelling of Charlston Fryday Aug 28th '63 Invested money in lotery. Bought 4 tickets each ticket draws a sperite price total amount 523 Big thing on ice Saturday Aug 29th '63 Comited depridations on a larg watermelon cash out $1.00 Layed in camp all day Rejoiced over the Report of the fall of Sumpter and Batery wagoner Col Farrer left for michigan yesterday the 28 on Fourlough of 20 days Sunday August 30th '63 Rube Returned acompaied by Cordon Barber. pass to Sandy Hook vetoed by dam old Col How. comd Had michigan super Monday Aug 31st '63 Musterd for pay By old How. Wm Davis Returned Regiment very Laim Tuesday Sept 1st '63 Cool and dry Fon Filkin came to camp Rube delt out Rations. I cooke the grub, Rube and fon played cards in the even Wednsday Sept 2th '63 Worm day W.A. Filkins left for sandy Hook. I heard that the draft wos comense in michigan. Nothing hapened worth of note Thursday Sept 3rd '63 Sim Hunt and martin Hines wos hear to day, they went to sandy Hook they Report all wel at lowell, drew new Bed ticks, had a drink of wiskee at night pld cds Fryday sept 4th '63 A man in died in co A with the feaver and lung complaint he wos buried in miletary stile. Holden went to the city wether rather cool . mailed leter to John and one to father lange Saturday Sept 6th '63 Got excused from duty and wanted to go to the ciy but the old cuss would not sign my pass. Rube and Corden went. Wether Rather cool Sunday Sept 6th '63 Worm and sultry I hav Been cick all day with a bad cold Monday Sept 7th '63 Mooved camp into the corner of the field laid in quarters all day not fealing very wel tuesday Sept 8th '63 Lent Bob Finley $2.00 to go to the City, Bad cold on my lungs hard coughf ether worm and fogy, Bought 9 camp journals Rube toer them up an I did his the saim Q M Bought Rube a comesary book. John Tomkins Reduced to the Ranks for geting tight Wednsday Sept 9th Cool cloudy day and very loansom am thinking of home. Rube isued fresh beaf. Bob finley is ablsent without leaf Bob Returned all right. we have just set up a cooking stove angon to living got some veaf in the oven for breakfast Thursday sept 10th '63 Wether cool and dry Lierut wilson Returned to duty. Recd pay up to date. friends in lowell all wel. good news from the south. Fiering salutes all day sounds wel sounds wel one David died in co D tao day Col How wos superseaded to day by one Brigadier Jen Fryday Sept Sept 11th '63 Recd leter from Margret. dorah has been cick with the ague. The 4th Ny Regulars ar arived hear to day. Rube isued rations. to them they ar a rather Rough looking sit of boys. wther rather cool Saturday S ept 12th '63 A trip to ny city arived their at 5 pm put up at the western met maj Savors and went to nibloes theater Returned to the western at 10 eve. met cap avery and Sim Huntset and chated until 12 misnight then went to Bed. Sunday Sept 13th '63 Over slept our selvs and missed the boat to sand hook so we took the next boat to Staten Island very much disapoin and cick Monday Sept 14th '63 Company B Returned to the Regt had pancakes for breckfac and Baked beans for super Tuesday Sept 15th Had hot cakes for our breakfast. saw Ameral Faragut and Maj gen Dix to day they wer saluted with our 15 inch guns which made with a cold and the ear acke. got home at noon. Theadoer Richison gets his things ratle, wether very worm for this season of the year Wednsday Sept 16th '63 Went to Ny city goyt their at 5pm went to a Saloon and got Super. thence to nobloes saw ned Forister play the part of Brutus in a piece entitld the fall of rome. hear the celebrated Dodwerth Band took lodging at the western saw N. m. avery and Sim hunt Thursday 17th '63 Simeon Hunt left Ny for Lowell. N. m avery to mass. Myself and Rube went to sandy hook found the boys all wel. Missed the boat at the night and staid over our passes. Fryday Sept 18th '63 waided around in the dand and watche for the boat But no Boat came wether cold and windy with rain Saturday Sept 19th went west from sandy Hook to the high land a distence of 7 miles crassed the Bay in a ferry Boat from their to High Land station 7 miles farther to take the cars But did not connect so we went on a foot 2 and 1/4 farther took the Boat for ny at 9 am arived their at 12 midnight put up at the western Sunday Sept 20th '63 Took the Boat for fort Richmond arived their all safe and sound wether cold and windy a man died in co K taken cick in the fornoon and died in the after noon deseas unnone Monday Sept 21 st '63 Cap Avery come to camp. I made aplication for a fourlough for 20 days and handed it to coln J. S. Farrer for aproveal. Bull head Kelog came from the hospital, Wether cool and plesant Tuesday sept 22 Wether plesant But cool 3 companys detach and sent to terry town 2 com to Alaxandria to guard conscripts com. I remains at sandy Hook Let at Staten Isl Wednsday Sept 23rd Wether cool but plesant. Wm Rodgers left for Mich on a fourlough of 20 days . I drawd a pair of pants, Rube very buisey Had Bier in the evening got to fealing quite good, pleasant evening Thursday Sept 24th Rube went to sandy Hook and left me to Run the machien wrote a leter to pa. feal quite wel. expect a fourlough wetner cool and plesant Fryday sept 25th '63 Wether cold and wet with a stiff sea Brase. I hav Been acting QM sargent in Rubes absence, got the Sample of Full Diary--copied from a copy passed down by family members. Also have 2 actual letters from Civil War-Lester Hildreth