Charles J. Brown 1861 Diary

The Diaries of Charles Jeffrey Parsons Brown
Charles J. Brown was the son of William and Lucretia (Gray) Brown of Epsom, born Mar. 31, 1829 in Epsom. He had 2 sisters, Susan Elizabeth who married Alexander Forbes and lived in Byfield, Ma; and Mary Lucy Brown who married Joseph Blake Cass. He served in the Civil War NH 6th Regiment Co. I and married Mary Ann Chapman, daughter of Samuel T. and Deborah (Dow) Chapman, all of Epsom. They had 1 child, Charles William Brown born Jan. 13, 1850. The family resided on Center Hill across from the McClary Cemetery.
Apparently Charles J.P. Brown kept diaries, as three of them appeared on eBay as 'Civil War Diaries', and included the years 1860,1861 and 1863. At great expense these were bought and returned to Epsom. The first relates to Epsom, the second Epsom and Concord and his preparations to join the Civil War. 1862 is missing, and 1863 opens with his visiting Epsom prior to his return to service in Washington, DC. The 1863 diary also includes a list of all correspondence he wrote and received during the year. An addendum will include the names of people mentioned in the diaries once they are all transcribed, and the misc. material from the 1863 diary will also be a seperate addendum.
At the end of the 1861 Diary is a list of Epsom Soldiers.
1861
Tuesday, January 1, 1861
At work sawing wood and doing chores
Charles Steel and Nathan Griffin spent the evening here playing Whist
Wednesday 2
Loafing round here on the hill
Father went to Hooksett with a load of Barrels
Thursday 3
Did not do much
Got a bad cold and sore throat
Friday, January 4, 1861
Did not work
Throat sore yet
Ground my planes and chisels
Saturday 5
Did not work
Charles Steel spent the evening here
Sunday 6
Did not go to church
Monday 7, 1861
Made me a sawhorse
Rained some and made a sharp crust on the snow
Tuesday 8
Went to Concord with Ed to the State Convention
Called at Charles Steels in the evening
Wednesday 9
Did not work
Went down to the city in the afternoon with Ed
Went to a promenade concert in the evening at the town house
Thursday, January 10, 1861
Did not work
Ann was sick in the morning
Charles Steel spent the evening here
Friday 11
Did not work
Saturday 12
Went down to Yeatons mill with Bill Morrill
Sunday, January 13, 1861
Did not go to church
Went to meeting at the city in the eve
Monday 14
Cut up my stuff for the windows frames and hauled them down to Blakes
Estell Locke was buried
Went down to Charles Steels in the evening
Tuesday 15
Sawed by window stuff down at Blakes and hauled it home
Charley was sick
I spent the evening at home alone
Wednesday, January 16, 1861
At work making window frames
It snowed all day
Thursday 17
At work on the frames
Charles Steel and Nathan Griffin spent the eve here
Friday 18
At work in the frames
Went down to the city in the forenoon to get some nails
Saturday, January 19, 1861
Finished the first ten of Mr. Straws window frames
Sunday 20
Did not go to church
Monday 21
At work on the frames
Tuesday, January 22, 1861
At work on the frames
Went down to Mr. Steels in the evening
Wednesday 23
Finished my second ten of the frames
Went up to Mr. Cates and took up my note
Thursday 24
Did not work
Friday, January 25, 1861
Did not work
Played whist most of the day
Saturday 26
At work painting window sash for Father half day
Charles Steel and Nathan Griffin spent the eve here
Sunday 27
Did not go to church
Went down to the city in the evening
Monday, January 28, 1861
Setting glass for father
Spent the evening at the Steels playing whist
Tuesday 29
Loafing
Went over to Gulf Bridge with Ed
Wednesday 30
Loafing and sawing wood
Thursday, January 31, 1861
Loafing and sawing wood
Ed spent the evening here reading and playing chess
Charles Steel called in the afternoon
Friday, February 1
Loafing and sawing wood
Went down to the city in the afternoon
Went to singing school in the evening
Saturday 2
Loafing
Set out to go over to Mr. Straws in the afternoon but got stuck in the snow and turned around and came back
Charles Steel and Nathan Griffin spent the eve here
Sunday, February 3, 1861
Did not go to church
Ann went down to the city to a meeting in the evening
Monday 4
Went over to Mr. Straws and got some lumber
Mr. Peffers called
I spent the evening at Charles Steels
Played 2 games of chess with Nathan
Tuesday 5
Went down to Yeatons mill and got some boards
Wednesday, February 6, 1861
Went down to Blakes and sawed my stuff for the window frames
Thursday 7
At work on the window frames
Mr. Wiggin had his auction
Charles Steel and Nathan Griffin spent the eve here
Friday 8
At work on the frames in the forenoon
Played cards in the afternoon
Saturday, February 9, 1861
At work on the frames
Played chess in the eve with Ed
Sunday 10
Did not go to church
Blakes little girl was burn
Monday 11
At work in the shop making window frames
Went down to Charles Steels in the evening
Tuesday, February 12, 1861
Finished my window frames
Wednesday 13
At work on a tool chest for myself
Ed and Charles Wiggin called in the evening
Thursday 14
At work on my tool chest
Frank Marden and Charles Chapman called
Friday, February 15, 1861
At work on my Chest
Saturday 16
At work on my chest
Frank Marden called
Ann went up to the Baptist to meeting in the evening
Sunday 17
Did not go to church
Ann went up to the Baptist meeting in the eve
Monday, February 18, 1861
Went to Suncook with Joseph Lawrence
Tuesday 19
At work on my chest
Ann went up to the Baptist to a meeting in the eve.
Wednesday 20
Making a sled for Charlie
Thursday, February 21, 1861
At work in the shop
The shop caught fir
Simon took supper and spent the evening
Charles Steel spent the eve here
Friday
Getting ready to go to Concord and sawing wood
Saturday 23
Came to Concord with John Warren
Called at Bill Vir(gins) and Mrs. Flanders
Sunday, February 24, 1861
Did not go to church
Spent the day at the Elm House reading
Called at Mrs. Flanders in the eve
Monday 25
At work on Mr Butters house on the corner of Green and Warren Sts
Tuesday 26
At work for Mr. Butters
Called at Mrs. Flanders in the eve
Wednesday, February 27, 1861
At work on the house on Green and Warren St.
Thursday 28
At work on Jim Doritys house in the forenoon and on Green St. in the afternoon
Friday, March 1
At work on Green St.
Wrote to Ann
A man was hurt on the railroad and was brought to the Elm house and died at half past two in the morning
Saturday, March 2, 1861
At work on the house on Green St.
Called to see Mr.Gates in the eve
Sunday 3
Did not go to church
Called to see unkle Josiah
Monday 4
At work on the house on Green St.
Called at Unkel Josiahs in the eve
Wrote to Ann
Tuesday, March 5, 1861
At work at the South end
Sit up with Unkle Josiah all night
Myers Theatre commended playing at Phenix Hall Played Othello
Wednesday 6
At work on Green St.
Dather called
Spent the eve with Mr.Gates
Called at Mrs. Flanders
Hidden Hand
Thursday 7
Did not work it was so cold and I was not well
Ten nights in a Bar Room
Friday, March 8, 1861
At work on Green St.
Called at Unkl Josiahs
Doom of Deville
Saturday 9
At work on Green St.
Called at Unkle Josiahs
Anderson and the --- of the Glen
Sunday 10
Called at Unkel Josiahs
Wrote to Susan
Monday, March 11, 1861
Did not work
Father came up and carried Mother home
Lady of Lyons
Tuesday 12
Went to Epsom with Willey
Found the folks all well
Got a letter from Susan
Ten Nights in a Bar Room
Wednesday 13
At home all day
Don't feel well at all
Thursday, March 14, 1861
Went to Suncook with John C. Hall
Came up to Concord in the Portsmouth train
Stopped at Mrs. Flanders
Friday 15
Sick, Loafing round the city
Called at Bill Virgins in the afternoon and evening
Saturday 16
Came down home with Willey
Found the folks all well
Found Susan at home
Sunday, March 17, 1861
Did not go to church
Called at Fathers and spent the afternoon here
Susan called and spent the evening
Monday 18
Loafing round
Called at John Warrens and the store
Susan called in the evening
Charles Flower began to draw my wood
Uriah Hall began to board with Ann
Tuesday 19
At home loafing
Charles Chapman came our here and staid all night
Wednesday, March 20, 1861
Went down to the city to go to Concord with Willey but heard that Wallace did not want me, so I came back again
Susan went to Pittsfield
Thursday 21
Went over to Mr. Straws with the rest of his window frames
Ann washed for Lucy
Friday 22
Breaking the road
Called at Blakes
Saturday, March 23, 1861
Loafing
Went down to the city with John Warren in the afternoon
Sunday 24
Sick all day
Monday 25
Came to Concord with Willey
Found the folks all well
Wallace does not want me to work
Don't know what I shall go to doing
Tuesday, March 26, 1861
Went to work for Wallace in the afternoon on Governor Davis's house
Wednesday 27
At work on Davis house in the forenoon
In the shop in the afternoon
Thursday 28
At work on Mr. Davis house
Called at the Elm House in the evening
Friday, March 29, 1861
Loafing round and fixing the cistern and clearing out he cellar
At work for Davis and Butters
Saturday 30
Loafing
Went down to the city in the afternoon with John Warren
Charlie Chapman went home
Putting up a --- for J. M. Smith and clearing out the shop
Sunday 31
Sick all day
Went to church at the Cross St Baptist in the afternoon
Called at Unkle Josiahs and went to the Methodist in the evening
Monday, April 1, 1861
At work moving the benches and tools from the shop
Called at Bill Virgins in the eve
Drusilla came up with George Willey
Got a letter from Ann and wrote to her
Tuesday 2
Setting up the benches and grinding the tools
Did not work much
Wednesday 3
Did not work
Thursday, April 4, 1861
Went down to Suncook to see Simon
Walked the track home
Called at Bill Virgins in the evening
Friday 5
Trimming apple trees for Mrs. Pinkham in the morning
Shingling for Col. Kent in the afternoon
Got a letter from Annie and wrote to her
Saturday 6
Shingling for Col. Kent
Sunday, April 7, 1861
Went to the first Baptist in the forenoon
To the Methodist in the evening
Monday 8
At work for Co. Kent
Got a letter from Annie
Tuesday 9
At work for Col Kent in the forenoon and for Tim Blaisdel in the afternoon
Wrote to Annie
Went to the wedding of Anson Marshall & Miss Carning
Wednesday, April 10, 1861
At work shingling Tim Blaisdells house
Drusilla went home
Thursday 11
Shingling for Tim Blaisdell
Went to a Sunday school concert in the eve
Got a letter from Annie
Friday 12
At work for J.H. Hill
Went to the Methodist Sunday school concert in the eve
Wrote to Annie
Saturday, April 13, 1861
At work for Gould in the forenoon
Rained and did not work in the afternoon
Sunday 14
Went to church at Cross St in the forenoon, to Annie Hills funeral at the University in the afternoon and to the Unitarian in the evening
Monday 15
At work on Mr. Goulds stable
Got a letter from Annie and wrote to her
Tuesday, April 16, 1861
Rain and snow all did, did not work only about two hours at Dr. Simpson
Wednesday 17
Making doors for Mr. Gould
Got my whiskers cut out
Capt. Crane commenced enlisting volunteers
Thursday 18
Putting the sill under the stable
Called at Bill Virgins in the evening
Friday, April 19, 1861
Putting up stills in the stable. Called Estabrooks
Went to a meeting at city hall in the eve
Saturday 20
Putting in Stalls in the forenoon
Came down home in the afternoon
Brought Eisy Bickford down home
Sunday 21
At home all day
Went to ride with Ann in the forenoon
Came to Concord in the evening
Monday, April 22, 1861
At work on the stable in the forenoon
Went to Epsom in the afternoon
Enlisted in the evening
Tuesday 23
At work on the stable in the forenoon
Sick and did not work in the afternoon
Went to drill in the evening
Got a letter from Sue and wrote to her
Wednesday 24
At work on the stable all day
Went to drill in the eve
Wrote to Ann
Thursday, April 25, 1861
At half day Father & Mother called
Got a letter from Sue and wrote to her
Went to drill in the eve
Friday 26
Did not work
Wrote to Ann
Went to drill in the evening
Chose our officers for the company
Saturday 27
At in the forenoon
Did not to work in the afternoon
Sunday, April 28, 1861
Went to church at cross St. in the forenoon, at the South in the afternoon and to Elder Prebels in the eve
Monday 29
At work in the afternoon raising the stable
Went to drill in the eve
Got a letter from Ann and wrote to her
Got two letters from Sue and a revolver
Tuesday 30
Wrote to Sue
At work in the forenoon
Went to drill in the afternoon and eve
Wednesday, May 1, 1861
Did not work
Went out to Camp Union and spent most of the day
Went to drill in the evening
Thursday 2
Came down home with Willey
Emma Chapman was here
Friday 3
Mending my boots and coating
Went down to the city and had my picture take for Ann and (Emma?)
Saturday, May 4, 1861
Went down and had my picture taken for Mother
Emma went home
Played ball in the afternoon
Went out in the pasture and got some May flowers
Sunday 5
Called at Joe Lawrences and at Blakes
Bid Annie good bye and came to Concord with Walt Gage
Monday 6
Did not work
Went to drill in the afternoon and evening
Ann Haynes and Bart came over and joined our company
Tuesday, May 7, 1861
Did not work
Sent my tools down to Epsom for Ed
Wednesday 8
Ed and John Warren came up here
I went over to Camp with them
I got a letter from Ann
Went to drill in the evening
Thursday 9
Went over to the Camp
Wrote to Ann
Went to drill in the evening
Friday, May 10, 1861
Sick with the headache
Went to drill in the evening
Got a letter from Ann
Saturday 11
Came down home on foot and spent the night
Sunday 12
At home all day
David Marden came down
John Weeks and Abby spent the day here
Ann went to meeting at J.C. Halls
Monday, May 13, 1861
Came to Concord on foot with David Marden
Joel Sanborn came up from New Market
Tuesday 14
Loafing round after Wallace
Went to drill forenoon and afternoon begin to think that Wallace has left for Texas
Wednesday 15
Came down home with Alonzo Wallace
Thursday May 16, 1861
Putting up the Wash tub for Ann
Went down to the city in the afternoon
Friday 17
Making soup and building fence
Frank and Jim went over to Mr. Mardens planting
Saturday 18
At home
A.D. Haynes called to see me
I went down to the city in the afternoon
Sunday, May 19, 1861
At home all day
Went to meeting at the city at 5 o'clock
Monday 20
Came to Concord on foot
Got a ride part of the way with Mr. Batchelder from Northwood
Wrote to Susan
Went to drill in the evening
Tuesday 21
Came home from Concord with Willey
Wednesday, May 22, 1861
Making my garden
Frank moved home
Got a letter from Sue
Thursday 23
Planting my beans, early potatoes, sweet corn, snuffing corn, squashes etc.
Friday 24
Doing nothing in the forenoon
Went down to help raise Sam Batchelders barn in the afternoon
Saturday, May 25, 1861
Cleaning out the cellar in the forenoon
Went down to the city in the afternoon
Frank called
Unkle Rand was buried
Sunday 26
Did not go to church
Went over in Bill Yeatons pasture and got some checkerberries in the afternoon
Monday 27
Cleaning the chambers and filling wood
Tuesday, May 28, 1861
Filing my saw and sorting potatoes in the forenoon
Went down to the city and harrowing in the afternoon
Got a letter from Sue
Wednesday 29
At work on the highway in the forenoon and fixing to plant in the afternoon
Thursday 30
At work on the highway in the forenoon
Went over to George Swains in the afternoon with Ed
Friday, May 31, 1861
Planting Potatoes in the forenoon
Went out in the woods picking my leaves and down to the city in the afternoon
Saturday, June 1
Went out in the woods after my leaves in the forenoon
Loafing and clearing out the cistern in the afternoon
Sunday 2
Did not go to church
Called at Charles Steels
Wrote to Susan
Monday, June 3, 1861
At work in the shop in the forenoon and sawing wood in the afternoon
Went over to Ben Halls with Joe Rand
Tuesday 4
At work on the Highway for Mr. Lord
Wednesday 5
At work on the highway for Mr. Lord
Joe Rand broke through the bridge at Ben Yeatons
Thursday, June 6, 1861
At work on the bridge at Yeatons in the forenoon
Rained in the afternoon and I came home
James Marden called here
Friday 7
At work on the bridge
Ann came down after me with the horse at night
Saturday 8
Went up to Bill Gosses in the forenoon
At work for Blake in the afternoon
Sunday, June 9, 1861
Ann went to church
I went over on the mountain with Ed
Monday 10
At work peeling bark for Bill Morrill
Tuesday 11
Planting beans down in the field
Wednesday, June 12, 1861
Peeling bark for Bill Morrill
Thursday 13
Hoeing my corn and potatoes
Went down to the city
Friday 14
Hoeing for Father
Saturday, June 15, 1861
Hoeing for myself in the forenoon
Went down to the city in the afternoon
Sunday 16
Did not go to church
Ann took care of Blakes baby
Jack Sherburns child died
Monday 17
Went up to Colby Sherburn in the forenoon
Went fishing in the afternoon
Tuesday, June 18, 1861
Went down to Charles Steels in the forenoon with Simon
Spent the evening at Charles Steels
Wednesday 19
Hoeing for William A. Sanders
Thursday 20
Hoeing for W.A. Sanders
The 2d Regt left Portsmouth for the seat of war
Ann is sick with sore throat
Friday, June 21, 1861
Hoeing for W.A. Sanders
Ann is no better
Saturday 22
Went over to Chestnut pond with Ed in the forenoon
Round home in the afternoon
Got a letter from Sue
Sunday 23
Did not go to church
Wrote to Susan
Monday, June 24, 1861
Went down to the office in the morning
Sick with sore throat in the afternoon
Tuesday 25
Sick with sore throat
Did not work
Henry Sanborn called
Wednesday 26
Did not work
Lieut Walker was buried
Thursday, June 27, 1861
Went up to the new meeting house in the forenoon
Went over to Capt. Rills with Ann after supper
Friday 28
Did not work
Went up to the New Meeting house
Saturday 29
Hoeing my beans
Got a letter from Susan
Went over to the pasture with H Bickford
Sunday, June 30, 1861
Ann went to church
I wrote to Susan and went on to Fort Mountain
Monday, July 1
Hoeing for myself in the forenoon and for Wiggin in the afternoon
Went over to George Swains with Ed
Tuesday 2
Mending my boots and grinding my scythe
Wednesday, July 3, 1861
Hoeing my potatoes in the forenoon, went to Hooksett with Ann and Charlie in the afternoon. Charlie went to Boston.
Thursday 4
Hoeing part of the day, loafing the rest
Eb Hoyt called here
Friday 5
Making a hay rack for father
Saturday, July 6, 1861
Making Hay rack for Father in the forenoon
Loafing in the afternoon
Got a letter from Susan
Sunday 7
Did not go to church
Wrote to Susan
Monday 8
Began work for Henry Sanborn haying
Cut the clover on the stumpy piece
Tuesday, July 9, 1861
At work for Henry Sanborn getting in the clover and mowing in front of the house and on the ridge beyond the corn
Got a letter from Charlie
Wednesday 10
At work for Henry half day
Thursday 11
Did not work
Rained in the afternoon
Friday, July 12, 1861
At work for Henry Sanborn
Ann went over to the Babb place blueberrying with Gulia Chesley
Saturday 13
At work for Henry Sanborn
Got a letter from Charlie
Ann went to Deerfield and down in Captain Curtisses after blueberries
Sunday 14
At home all day
Wrote to Charlie and Susan
Monday, July 15, 1861
At work for Henry Sanborn
Tuesday 16
At work for Henry Sanborn
Wednesday 17
At work haying for Henry Sanborn
Thursday, July 18, 1861
At work haying for Henry Sanborn
Got a letter from Susan
Ann went up on Henry Sanborns Deerfield after blueberries
Friday 19
At work for Henry Sanborn
Saturday 20
Did not work
Pulled weeks, sowed turnips, went blueberrying etc
Sunday, July 21, 1861
At home
Wrote to Susan
Battle of Bulls Run Va between 90 000 Rebels and 35,000 Union troops
Union men beaten with a loss of from 3,000 to 6,000
Monday 22
At work for Henry Sanborn
Calvin Heath worked for him
Tuesday 23
At work for Henry Sanborn
Calvin helped him
Wednesday, July 24, 1861
Went over on the mountain to help Henry catch a Lamb and to get some berries
Thursday 25
Went to Hooksett after Charlie
Called at John Weeks
Friday 26
At work for Henry Sanborn
Saturday, July 27, 1861
Pulling weeds in the forenoon
Went down to the city in the afternoon and down to Pleasant pond with Ann & Sue Goss
Sunday 28
Did not go to church
Ann went half day
I wrote to Dana Wallace, Andrew Hall and Susan
Monday 29
Doing chores round home
Rainy all day
Tuesday, July 30, 1861
At work for Henry Sanborn
Wednesday 31
At work for Henry Sanborn, finished haying for him
Thursday, August 1
Went to Concord with Henry Sanborn
Got a letter from Dana Wallace
Friday, August 2, 1861
Went blueberrying with Ann, got 20 quarts
Saturday 3
Sawing wood
Ann went blackberrying with Deb Hall
Sunday 4
Did not go to church
Monday, August 5, 1861
Sawing wood most of the day
Great shower in the afternoon
Tuesday 6
Sawing wood
Went up on the mountain after blueberries to send to Susan
Just got home
Wednesday 7
Splitting wood
Mother went to Boston
Thursday, August 8, 1861
Went a fishing down in Suncook and with Ed and Austin
Abby came out here
Friday 9
Sawing and splitting wood
Fred Brown came down here
Charlie went to New Rye with Frank
Saturday 10
Went a fishing at Pleasant Pond with Ed, Aust and Fred
Charlie got a letter from Sue
He came home from New Rye
Sunday, August 11, 1861
At home all day
Monday 12
Making doors for Jim Hall
Tuesday 13
Making doors for Jim Hall
Got a letter from Dana Wallace
Wednesday, August 14, 1861
Wrote to Dana
Lewis Sanborn took dinner with us
Thursday 15
Cutting up Apple trees in the forenoon
Went down to the city in the afternoon
Friday 16
Making fly screens in the forenoon
Went down to Charles Steels in the afternoon
Saturday, August 17, 1861
Went a fishing in the forenoon
At work at Blakes in the afternoon
Sunday 18
Did not go to church
Ann went to the Congregationalist
Monday 19
At work at Blakes sawing out window stuff and fixing a wheel for threshing machine
Tuesday, August 20, 1861
Making window frame for John C. Hall
Wednesday 21
Making window frames for John C. Hall
Ann went to New Rye
Thursday 22
At work for Charles Steel
Ann got home from New Rye
Friday, August 23, 1861
At work for Charles Steel clapboarding and trimming doors
Saturday 24
At work for Charles Steel clapboarding and repairing his house
Sunday 25
Did not go to church
Monday, August 26, 1861
At work at Charles Steel
Tuesday 27
At work for Charles Steel
Wrote to Susan and Dana
Got a letter from Dana
Wednesday 28
At work for Charles Steel
Thursday, August 29, 1861
At work for Charles Steel
Friday 30
At work for Charles Steel
Saturday 31
At work for Charles Steel
Got a letter from Susan
Sunday, September 1, 1861
Did not go to church
Called at Joes and Charles Steels
Monday 2
At work for Charles Steel
Susan and Sandie came up here
Tuesday 3
At work for Charles Steel
Wednesday, September 4, 1861
At on Jim Halls Barn putting a projection
Thursday 5
At work on Jim Halls Barn putting on projection and clapboarding
Friday 6
At work for Jim Hall shingling
Saturday, September 7, 1861
At work for Jim Hall shingling
Sunday 8
At work for Jim Hall shingling
Did not go to church
Monday 9
At work for Jim Hall hanging doors
Tuesday, September 10, 1861
At work for Charles Steel setting glass
Wednesday 11
At work on John C. Halls window frames
Called at Henry Sanborns
Thursday 12
Pulling beans and building fence
Susan and Alex went to Boston
Friday, September 13, 1861
At work for Charles Steel in the forenoon
Went up to Colby Sherburns in the afternoon
Saturday 14
At work for Lewis Thompson
Sunday 15
Did not go to church
Monday, September 16, 1861
At work for John C. Hall
Jack Weeks spent the night here
Tuesday 17
At work for John C. Hall
Wednesday 18
At work for John C. Hall
Thursday, September 19, 1861
At work for John C. Hall
Went down to the city to Lyceum in the evening
Friday 20
Pulling beans and cutting stocks
Saturday 21
Making cellar window frames for Mr. Straw
Enlisted under Capt. Ela
Sunday, September 22, 1861
Did not go to church
Monday 23
At work clapboarding for John C. Hall
Tuesday 24
At work clapboarding for John C. Hall half day
Went to New Rye with Arthur Lock
Got a letter from Dana Wallace
Wednesday, September 25, 1861
At work for John C. Hall
Thursday 26
Digging potatoes and pulling beans and patching the roof of the house
Friday 27
Threshing my beans
Went to Lyceum in the evening
Saturday, September 28, 1861
Picking up my boots
John Weeks came over here
Went down to the city in the afternoon
John Weeks called
Sunday 29
Did not go to church
Called at Charles Steels
John Weeks and Rob Ela called
I wrote to Dana and Susan
Monday 30
Came over to Suncook with Ham Hall to Concord by the Portsmouth
Arrived at Laconia at ½ past 4 P.M.
Stopped at the Willard Hotel, A.L. Morrison
Tuesday, October 1, 1861
Came to Lakevill, stoped at the Lake Hotel
Nothing came from L.V.
To Holderness stopped at Hotel kept by James Thompson
Wedensday 2
Came down to Concord in the morning train
Found Mr. Ela at the depot
Robert came up in the ten o'clock train, went down the(O?&C) train at Newton at 7 o'clock evening
Thursday 3
Went through New//, Hampstead, Danvill, Sandown, Raymond, Kingston etc 21 miles of foot. Came up on the Portsmouth
Great fire in Concord
Friday, October 4, 1861
Went to Manchester after a tent
Did not get one
Stopped at the Eagle with Capt.Ela
Saturday 5
Rainy Day
Came down home on the stage
Went to drill in the afternoon
Sunday 6
At home all day
Monday, October 7, 1861
Digging potatoes in the forenoon
Went to drill in the afternoon
Bart Haynes and Bill Perkins enlisted
Rob came down
Tuesday 8
Went to Deerfield with Rob and Jack
Got a letter from Dana
Wednesday 9
At muster all day
Thursday, October 10, 1861
Digging potatoes
Jack went to Concord with Rob
I went to lyceum in the eve
Got a letter from Susan
Friday 11
Went to New Rye to see Jim Marden
Saturday 12
Clearing up the shop and chambers
Unkle Jonathan Philbrick and wife from Rye came up to Fathers
Sunday, October 13, 1861
Did not go to church
Wrote to Dana Wallace
Monday 14
Digging potatoes, threshing, husking corn and doing all sorts of work
Tuesday 15
Went up to Perley Giles, James Sherburns and over to New Rye
Got a letter from Robert Ela
Wednesday, October 16, 1861
Went down to the city and over to Daniel Bickfords

Thursday 17
At home in the forenoon, went to town meeting in the afternoon
Friday 18
Went up to Jack Sherburns in the forenoon and to Concord in the afternoon
Saturday, October 19, 1861
Went to Jack Sherburnes
Sunday 20
Did not go to church
Rob came down from Concord
Monday 21
Went up to Jack Sherburns and over to short falls and New Rye
Tuesday, October 22, 1861
Put up a barrel of potatoes and sent them to Susan
Simon called here in the evening
Wednesday 23
Went down to the city twice
Wrote to Rob
Thursday 24
Went down to the city and over W.D.M. Knowles
Went to Lyceum
Got a letter from Rob
Friday, October 25, 1861
Went down to the city
John and Abby got back from New Rye
Got a letter from Rob
Saturday 26
Went up to Jacks auction
Sunday 27
Did not go to church
Wrote to Susan
Rob went up to Concord
Monday, October 28, 1861
Went down to the city
John Weeks and John Ham went to Concord
Tuesday 29
Went down to Capt. Curtises auction and over to Will Moores
Wednesday 30
Helping Jack move
Rob came down from Concord and ordered us into camp
Thursday, October 31, 1861
Went to Concord with Jack and to Pittsfield to see John Page
Went to Lyceum in the evening
Rob went to Deerfield
Friday, November 1
Went round and notified the Boys to be ready to start Monday morning
Saturday 2
Round home all day
Sunday, November 3, 1861
Did not go to church
Very rainy day
Monday 4
Started for Manchester at six o'clock arrived at M. at ten
Came on to the camp ground, found no tents for our accommodation
Slept in the tents of Capt. House of Lebanon
Tuesday 5
Drilling most of the day
Went up to Concord in the evening, stopped at the Elm House
Wrote to Annie
Wednesday, November 6, 1861
Came back from Concord in the afternoon
Thursday 7
Very cold weather and windy
Went down to the city to get some stoves
Friday 8
Drilling the men most of the day
Wrote to Ann
Saturday, November 9, 1861
Drilling the men in the forenoon
Rainy in the afternoon
Mr. Ela called
Went to the city in the evening
Sunday 10
Went out on parade to hear a sermon from the chaplain Mr. Emerson
Wrote to Susan
Monday 11
Drilling the men
Went to Concord by the last train
Staid all night at the Elm House
Tuesday, November 12, 1861
Went over to West Concord and back to Manchester in the afternoon
Wednesday 13
Came up home with Jack
Went to New Rye
Staid at home all night
I forbade John C. Hall carting off the dirt in front of my fence
Thursday 14
Called to see Jack
He is worse the Dr. says that he had got the Diphtheria
I came back to Manchester
Mr. Hall carted off the dirt
Friday, November 15, 1861
Keeping tent all day
Jack Weeks went to Epsom
Saturday 16
Did not drill
Went down to city
Sunday 17
On guard all day
Got a letter Susan
Charles Batchelder and Jake Wiggin called
Monday, November 18, 1861
Wrote to Susan and to Annie
Rob went to Concord
Tuesday 19
Rob is gone to Concord
Had burnt soup for dinner
Wednesday 20
Rob came back from Concord. Mr. Ela came down. I went up with
Arrived at t new Rye at nine o'clock found Ann at Samys
Thursday, November 21, 1861
Came out on the hill found John Philbrick and currier him to Concord
Came down home at night rather sick
Friday 22
At home
Called at John Warrens and Bill Morrills
My cold is no better
Saturday 23
At home all day
Called at jack Sherburns and the post officer
Abby got a letter from John
Sunday, November 24, 1861
At home all day
Lucy called
Monday 25
Came up to Concord and over to Keene in the afternoon
Arrived at Camp Brooks at eight I the evening
Found all well
Tuesday 26
Setting up tents, tables and getting ready for house keeping
Wrote to Susan
Wednesday, November 27, 1861
Doing police duty most of the day and loafing the rest of the time
Thursday 28
Making out pay roll and doing writing for the company
Went down to the street and was mustered into the service hall a present of a Turkey dinner from the Ladies of Keene
Friday 29
Making out pay and company rolls
Saturday, November 30, 1861
Got my uniform and Bounty
Sunday, December 1
Went down to the street to church with the men in the afternoon
Monday 2
Doing duty all day
Got a letter from Susan
Tuesday, December 3, 1861
Making out pay roll and certificates for the men
Got a letter from Ann
Wednesday 4
The most of the boys went of home and a furlow
I wrote to Ann and Susan
Thursday 5
Did not work very hard
went down to the street
Friday, December 5, 1861
Went to Boston and spent the night with Susan
Saturday 7
Came up to Concord and found the boys --- down home with Willey
Found the folks all well
Jim, Frank, Saran, Emma, Annah Marden and Lucy spent the evening here.
Sunday 8
Did not go to church
Mr. Peffers held a meeting in the school house in the evening
Monday, December 9, 1861
Went down to the city
Rob came down here in the evening and staid all night
Tuesday 10
Rob went to Deerfield
Ann, Charlie and I went down to George Chapmans and spent the afternoon
Wednesday 11
Ann and I went to New Rye in the afternoon. Charlie Chapman came out here and spent the night
Thursday, December 12, 1861
At home all day
Friday 13
At home all day
Went over to the school house in the evening to bid the boys good bye
Blake and Lucy spent the eve here
Saturday 14
Came up to Concord with John Warren and over to Keene, arrived at 8 o'clock
Sunday, December 15, 1861
Went down to the street to meeting
Monday 16
Wrote to Ann
Tuesday 17
Drilling and writing all day
Wednesday, December 18, 1861
Drilling all the forenoon
Thursday 19
Went down to the city in the forenoon and had the colors presented
Went down in the afternoon and done some trading
Wrote to Annie and sent her my picture and some money. I got a letter from her
Friday 20
Do not feel very well
Went to officer drill in the forenoon
Saturday, December 21, 1861
Went down to the street in the forenoon
Got a letter form Ann and wrote to her
Sunday 22
Did not go to church
Ham Hall called to see me
Monday 23
Went down to the city to trade off our extra (fold?)
Tuesday, December 24, 1861
Packing up once preparing to visit the camp
Went down to the city and spent the night
Wednesday 25
Started for the seat of war at 9 o'clock A.M. arrived at Athens Point at 6 P.M. started from there at 12 midnight arrived at Jersey City at 9
Thursday 26
Arrived at Jersey City at 9 A.M., left for NY at 2 P.M. are going to Ambuy had a very pleasant ride w/ the ---
Went from Jersey City to Amby and from A. to Philia arrived at Philia at 10 o'clock and staid in the --- till 3 the next morning.
Friday, December 27, 1861
Went on board in cars at ½ past five after standing in the rain four or five hours
Wet and cold and no fire in the cars
Saturday 28
Arrived at Washington at three o'clock P.M.
Staid at the soldiers rest
Sunday 29
Worked all day getting our luggage into camp and pitching our tents
Wrote to Ann
Monday, December 30, 1861
Sick all day
Got a letter from Ann
Tuesday 31
Some better
Wrote to Ann, Susan and Dana Wallace
Set up all night
John M. Weeks
George B. Tilton
Chas J. Brown
Mark Emery
George M. Marden
Patrick Doyle
John Gough
William B. Perkins
Hiram B. Haynes
John N. Emery
Andrew J. Sherburne
Robert Crawford
Edwin M. Sherburne
James W. Marden
John W. Page
George M. Sherburne
William T. Grant
Joseph Siley
Benjamin Brock
Lauren A. Leighton
Henry H. Lane
Benjamin S. Robinson
Horace Holden
Charles W. Leighton
Albion P. Marden
George W. Gilman
John F. Carter
Jerome Putman
John M. Wilcox
George Call
? Green
John S. Ham
Lewis Nutter
Joseph T. Hoit