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.
1863
Thursday
Jan. 1 1863
At home all day
Made Ann a pair of boots
Spent the evenings
at Fathers
Friday 2
Went down on Blakes pond skating in the forenoon
Wrote to Joe Shepard
Saturday 3
Went over to Chestnut pond fishing with
the Hoyt boys, Morrill Bickford and Mase, had good luck
Sunday 4
At
home all day
Monday 5went to Concord with Annie
Got her a dress and
a cloak
Spent the evening at Charles Steels
Tuesday 6
Went down
on the pond to try my skates and up the brook fishing with Ham Hall
Wednesday
7
At home all day
Went to a panorama at the town house in the evening
Thursday
8
Went down to the post office in the afternoon
Charles Steel and Nathan
Griffin spent the evening here
Capt. Ela came in the evening
Friday
9
At home all day. Capt. Ela, Joe Chapman and Sarah spent the day here
Father Chapman called, got my commission as first Lieut.
Saturday 10
I went to Concord with Capt. Ela got my valise and ordered my uniform at Edmunds
Sunday
11
At home all day
Monday 12
At home all day
Joseph Siley's
wife died
I made a curb for the well
Tuesday 13
Went down to the
post office at noon
Called at Blakes
Martha Seley was buried
I spent
the evening at Charles Steels
Wednesday 14
Went down to the city
Joe Hoyt let me have some money
Joe Hoyt and Bill, Blake and Lucy spent the
evening here
Thursday 15
I went down to the post office
Ed went
to Suncook
Friday 16
At home all day getting my things ready to leave
Spent the evening at Mansons
Saturday 17
Went to Concord and got my
uniform
Captain Ela came down with me
Sunday 18
At home
Capt.
Ela is here
I called at Fathers and Blakes
Monday 19
Malve brought
me to Concord
I am stoping at the Eagle with the Capt.
Wrote to Annie
Tuesday
20
Left Concord at ¼ past ten, arrived in Boston at 2 P.M.
Called
at no. 6, at the school room and at L.G. Ps. Left B at ½ past 5
reached
the --- City of NY at 12 ----
Wednesday 21
Reached Jersey City at 1/9
past eight, left Jersey City at 10 A.M. arrieved at Perryville ½ past 7
P.M. and could not cross on account of the ice
Thursday 22
Left Perryville
at 8 A.M. arrived in Washington at 1 P.M. took a room at he Central.
Called
to see Charleys Dr. Badger, Robinson and Chesley. Wrote to Annie
Friday
23
Called to see Charles and at the war Dept.
Came over to Alexandria
at night, staid at the City Hotel
Wrote to Annie, Capt. Ela, Sue and Joe Chapman
Saturday
24
Left Alexandria at ½ past 7, arrived at COVALESENT camp
I (??)
found Lieut Jackman, shall probably be detailed for duty here. Rolled out of bed
in the night
Sunday 25
Spent the day in camp
Wrote to Capt. Ela
and Charlie Chapman
Monday 26
Loafing around camp
Jackman is gone
to Washington. I wrote to Lillian
Tuesday 27
Loafing round the tent
and signing final statements for Lieut Jackman
Wrote to Annie
Wednesday
28
A very stormy day
I staid in the tent all day, was assigned to duty
with Lieut Paxton of the Penna troops
Am troubled with the diarrhea
Commenced
my duties with Lieut Paxton
Two men were killed and two wounded by the cars
It is fair weather once more and the mud is deeper that ever, Paxton is gone to
Washington
Friday 30
Pleasant day.
At work making out clothing accts.
Wrote to Annie, Sue, Mrs. Flanders, H.T. Dudley and --- Griffin.
My valise
came in
Saturday 31
At work making out clothing accounts
Capt. Davis
called in the evening
Sunday, February 1, 1863
Making out clothing accounts
Wrote to Tilton, Cap. Ela, Molve and Annie
Got a letter from Capt.
Monday
2
At work in the office as usual
I got a letter from Charlie Chapman and
wrote him
Tuesday 3
At work in the office making out clothing accounts
Jackman was ordered to his Regt.
Very cold day
Wednesday 4
At work
in the office as usual
Jackman went to Washington
Cold and windy
Thursday
5
At work in the office
Jackman got home from Washington
I got a
letter and power of attorney from Cap Ela
Rainy this P.M.
Wrote to Annie
Friday
6
At work in the office as usual
Have a very bad cold and headache
Got a letter from Annie and wrote to her
Saturday 7
At work in the office
Moved into the large tent
A very pleasant day
Sunday 8
At work in
the office
Three new clerks began their labors with me
I wrote to Capt.
Ela
Monday 9
At work in the office as usual
Tuesday 10
Went
to Washington
Wrote to Capt. Ela
Got a letter from Ann and Sue
Wrote
to Malve and Annie
Wednesday 11
At work in the office
Wrote to Susan
Thursday
12
At work in the office
Got a letter from Malve and wrote to him
Friday
13
At work in the office
Wrote to Annie
Cap Ela arrived here in the
afternoon
Saturday 14
At work in the office
Got a letter from Annie
and Charlie Chapman
I wrote to Charlie in the afternoon and in the evening
to Annie
Capt. Ela went to Washington
Saturday 15
At work in the
office part of the day
I got a letter from Ann Cass
Monday 16
At
work in the office
Got a letter from Mrs. Flanders
Wrote to Ann Cass and
to Edmunds & Co.
Tuesday 17
At work in the office
It snowed
all day
The Captain, Jackman and Edmans started to join their Regts
I
wrote to Annie
Wednesday 18
At work in the office
It rained all
day
The walking is fine and soft
Wrote to Ed
Thursday 19
Raining
still, at work in the office
Friday 20
At work in the office
A very
windy day
The mud is drying up finally
In the evening I wrote to Annie
and sent her a plum stone basket
Saturday 21
Paxton is gone to Washington
I am in command
Thomas Bryant came over here
I got a letter from Annie
and wrote to her
Sunday 22
Stormy all day, the hardest storm I have
ever seen in this country
Monday 23
Pleasant day
In the office all
day
Mrs. Marston took a sleigh ride
I played Eucher in the evening with
Paxton, Westbrook and Mulkins
Tuesday 24
In the office all day
Very
pleasant
Mrs. Marston took another sleigh ride
I wrote to Annie
Wednesday
25
At work in the office
Lt. Malkins is gone to Washington
I got a
letter from Ed Sherburne and one from Annie
I wrote to Annie
Thursday
26
Very rainy day
At work in the office all day
Malkins went on duty
as officer of the guard
I got letters from Susan, Ed Sanborn and Malve and
wrote to Ed Sherburn, Malve, Ed Sanborn and Susan
Friday 27
At work
in the office
The Division moved into the Barracks
I got letters from
Annie, Lieut Tilton and Jackman
Wrote to each of them in the evening
Saturday
28
Moved into the Barracks
Received a letter from Capt. Ela
Sunday
March 1, 1863
In the office
Received letters from Annie and Capt. Ela
Monday
2
In the office
Received a letter from Annie and wrote to her
Tuesday
3
At work in the office
Wednesday 4
At work in the office
A
very cold rainy night
I spent the evening at Dr. Smiths playing Eucher
Thursday
5
At work in the office
A very pleasant day
Got my papers from Annie
and a paper from Sue
I spend the evening at Lieut. Westbrooks
Friday
6
At work in the office
Lt. Paxton had a new tent put up for us
I
wrote to Annie
Spent the evening at Lt. Westbrooks playing Eucher with Westbrook,
Paxton and Dr. Smith
Saturday 7
At work in the office
Got a new
desk and table
Got a letter from Malve and one from Annie
Wrote to both
of them
Played Eucher at Capt. Marstons in the evening
Sunday 8
In the office as usual
My tent got on fire at noon and I burnt my hands putting
it out
Monday 9
At work in the office
Got a letter form Annie and
wrote to her
A very pleasant day
I moved into my new tent with Lt. Paxton
Tuesday
10
At work in the office
Rained all day
Wednesday 11
Snowed
last night
Pleasant this morning
Got a letter from Lt. Jackman
Thursday
12
At work in the office
Got a letter from Ed Sherburne
Friday 13
Sick and did not do much
Got a letter from Annie and wrote to her
Saturday
14
At work in the office
The Darkies tent burnt down
I received a
letter from Malve and one from Annie
Sunday 15
Cold and windy
We
had a tremendous thunderstorm in the afternoon
I wrote Malve and Annie
I set up half of the night with John Westbrook
Monday 16
At work in
the office
Tuesday 17
At work in the office
A very pleasant day
Wednesday
18
At work in the office
Got a letter from Annie and wrote to her
Thursday
19
Went to Washington and saw Capt Ela
I wrote to Annie
Got a letter
from Susan
Friday 20
At work in the office
Got a letter from Annie
and two papers from Sue
Wrote to Lt. Jackman and sent my commission and other
papers
Saturday 21
At work in the office
Snowed all day
I played
Eucher in the evening with Capt. Marston, Paxton and Dr. Smith
Sunday 22
Very pleasant day
I went down to the Dr Mrs
Got a letter from Lt Jackman
and one from Annie and wrote to her
Monday 23
At work in the office
Marston went to Washington
I spent the evening at Lieut. Westbrooks with Lt.
Paxton, Cap Marston & Dr. Smith
Tuesday 24
At work in the office
Received letters from Cap Ela and Molve
Wrote to Molve
Wednesday 25
At work in the office
Got a letter from Annie and wrote to her
Thursday
26
At work in the office
A cold squally day
Friday 27
In the
office all day as usual
Spent the eve player Eucher with Lt. Hopkins
Saturday
28
In the office all day
Got a letter from Annie and wrote to her
It rained all day
Sunday 29
Wrote to Ed Sanborn and Ann Cass
A very
windy day
Called to see Lt. Westbrook
Monday 30
In the office as
usual
A very pleasant day
I got a letter from Annie and wrote to her in
the eve
I played chess with Paxton
Tuesday 31
In the office
A nasty snowy rainy day, four inches of snow on the ground
Played Eucher with
Dr. Lyman and wife and Mrs. Hopkins, Cap Marston, Lt. Paxton and Hopkins
Wednesday,
April 1, 1863
In the office
A cold windy day
Played Euchre in the
eve with Paxton and Hopkins
Received a letter from Annie and wrote to her
Thursday
2
In the office as usual
Quite pleasant
Friday 3
In the office
The men went to the dining room to eat for the first time
I got a letter from
Susan
A very warm and pleasant day
Saturday 4
In the office
A very cold day
Paxtons brother came to see him
Sunday 5
A foot
of snow on the ground and the wind blowing a gale
Got a letter from Ann, two
papers from Sue and one from Ann Cass
Wrote to Annie and Sue
Monday
6
In the office. Paxton went up to his Regt on a visit
Lt. Stewart came
into camp and spent the night here with me
Tuesday 7
At work in the
office as usual
Lt. Stewart took his quarters in my bed.
I played Eucher
in the evening with Stewart, Lt. Jenkins and Marston
Wednesday 8
At
work in the office as usual. The boys in camp
Distribution made a raid on
the Sutler
The Penna boys were arrested for getting a petition against Col
McKeloy
Thursday 9
A very pleasant day
I am the office as usual
Got letters from Annie, Ed and Molve
Wrote to Annie and Ed
Friday 10
Another very pleasant day
I was appointed ordinance officer of this camp
Spent the evening playing Eucher at Lt. Hopkins
Saturday 11
Another
pleasant day
I got a letter from Annie and wrote to her
I spent the evening
player Eucher with Paxton and Stewart
Sunday 12
Pleasant day
Paxton
has gone to Washington
Lt. Hopkins and wife and myself went over to Fort Barnard
I spent the eve at Lt. Hopkins
Monday 13
Paxton is gone off
It is
a cloudy day
I got a letter from Annie and wrote to her
Tuesday 14
Paxton returned from Washington with his Capt.
Stress on
I had the head
ache and went to bed as soon as dark
Wednesday 15
Rained all day
Stewart has gone to Washington
Winters has gone home on a furlough
I
have the headache and do not go out
Thursday 16
Wet and cloudy
I
am better
I took an inventory of the ordinance on hand and set it to Col.
Baker
Friday 17
Loafing round from one office to the other
Got a
letter from Capt. Ela and wrote to him
Saturday 18
Pleasant day
Got a letter from Annie and wrote to her
Sunday 19
Very pleasant day
Capt. Paxton has gone to Washington
I went up to Fort Barnard with Lt. Hopkins
& wife, Dr. Lyman & wife and Miss Bradley.
Lt. Gilbert of the 1st
Conn Art spent the night here
Monday 20
I was at work turfing round
my door in the forenoon
It rained a part of the time
Reading in the afternoon
Paxton came home from Washington
Tuesday 21
Reading, writing and going
from one office to the other
I got a letter from Annie and wrote to her
It has cleared off, very pleasant
Wednesday 22
Not at all well
I
went out and got a few May Flowers
Spent the most of the day reading East
Lysm
Got a letter from Sue
Thursday 23
Sick
Reading. began a
letter to Sue
Rained all day
Got a letter from Ed and one from Molve
Friday
24
Another rainy day
Hopkins went to Washington
I finished writing
to Sue
Saturday 25
Pleasant day
Laid abed most of the day with the
back ache
Sunday 26
Pleasant
Laid abed
Began a letter to Annie
Did not get any letter from her
Writing a part of the time
Monday 27
Very pleasant day.
On the bed most of the day, when I was not I was looking
for a chance to ride to Washington
Finished my letter to Annie
Tuesday
28
Went to Washington and came home in the rain
Did not get any pay
Got a letter from Annie and wrote to her
Wednesday 29
Rainy
I am
sick and out of sorts this morning
Wrote to Cap Ela and Molve
Oh how I
do wish that Annie was here to take care of me
Thursday 30
Kept my tent
all day
Last day in camp
Got a letter from Annie and wrote to her
Friday,
May 1, 1863
Had some men at work round my tent setting out trees and putting
down turf
Got a letter from Capt. Ela and wrote to him
Saturday 2
Had some men at work on my yard
Sunday 3
Feeling very tired and sore
Paxton made up his mind to move
I went over the other side of the railroad
for the first time
Monday 4
Had the boys at work for me again
Got
a letter from Annie and wrote to her
Tuesday 5
Rainy day
Hopkins
went to Washington with the men
All the Qr Master stores of 1st Div. Turned
over to Lt. Ellers
Wednesday 6
Rainy day
I do not feel at all well
Sent Sue a description of Convalescent Camp
Staid in my tent all day
Got
a paper from Ann Cass
Thursday 7
Rainy all day
Paxton went to Washington
with the men
I got a letter from Annie and wrote to her
Friday 8
Another rainy day
I have the Diarrhea very badly
Spent the day mostly
in the tent
Saturday 9
Very pleasant day
I was moving the stuff
from the old Qr Master tent and putting pieces of boards for a floor
Got a
letter from Annie and wrote to her
Sunday 10
Very pleasant
I went
over to Fort Richardson
Dr. Lyman and wife, Hopkins and wife and Paxton went
a fishing
I got a letter from Ann Cass
Monday 11
Went to Washington
but got no money
Got a letter from Sue and one from Annie
Wrote to Capt.
Ela and Annie
Tuesday 12
Lying on the bed the most of the day
Wrote to Susan
Wednesday 13
Writing most of the day
Got a letter
from Lt. Jackman and two from Capt. Ela
Wrote to Cap Ela, Lt Jackman and the
Post Master at Newport News
Thursday 14
Not doing much
Got a letter
from Molve
Mended my old shoes for inspection
Friday 15
Cool and
pleasant day
Had a general inspection of the camp
Got pretty well tired
out, received a letter from Annie and wrote to her
Saturday 16
Went
to Washington
Called on L. Hine Esqr
Wrote to Capt. Ela and sent him the
copy of my muster
Rode home in Miss Bradleys Ambulance
Wrote to Annie
Sunday
17
At home all day
Wrote to the Post Master at Philadelphia
Monday
18
Reading, writing and loafing round
Tuesday 19
At work in the
Ordinance office in the forenoon
Went out in the afternoon with Alex Seavler
target shooting
Got a letter from Annie and wrote to her
Spent the evening
at Lt. Hopkins
Wednesday 20
Very warm
I got a letter from Edmunds
& Co and wrote to the and to Capt. Ela
Got a letter from Annie
Thursday
21
Very hot
I got a letter from Sue and wrote to her
2,000 paroled
prisoners came into camp.
Wrote to Annie
Friday 22
Very warm
At work regulating the paroled prisoners
Got a letter from Annie
Took
the men to bathe in the evening
Saturday 23
Hotter still
Made out
my return of ordinance and laid abed sick with a cold
Wrote to Annie and sent
her a collar from --- 12 handries
More paroled prisoners came in
Sunday
24
Went with the men to bathe in the morning
Laid abed with a cold the
rest of the day
Monday 25
Cold and cloudy
The paroled men refused
to turn out for work
The Reserves were sent for and patrolled the camp with
loaded muskets and forced them to obey
I got a letter from Annie and wrote
to her
Tuesday 26
Cool day
I took care of the Whiskey for a party
of ---- men
Got as letter from Cap Ela and wrote to him
Wednesday 27
Pleasant and warm
Took charge of the whiskey again today
Dr. Boothby was
ordered away
I got a letter from Cap Ela and wrote to him
Thursday 28
Warm day
I wrote to the Sec of State at Concord. Got letters from Sue, Malve
and Annie and wrote to all of them
Friday 29
Got a letter from Annie
dated April 21. Got my commission and Certificates from Capt and Col Pearson
Went to Washington
Spent the night at Dr. Badgers room 570 7th St.
Saturday
30
Racing round Washington to no purpose
Came back to camp
Received
twenty five dollars from Sue
Sunday 31
Spent the day in writing to Annie
and Sue
Very warm and windy
Got a letter from Annie
Wrote to Annie,
Sue, Malve and Cap Ela
Monday, June 1, 1863
At work moving the ordinance
tents
A very windy day
Paxton got his trunk from home.
Tuesday 2
Getting the ordinance tent in order
Went to Washington in the eve with Jenkins
Wednesday
3
Acting Whiskey bass
Got a letter from Cap Ela and one from Annie
Wrote to Cap Joe Hoyt and Annie
Captain Fernold took quarters with me
Thursday
4
Reading and writing most of the day
The Paymaster was here paying off
some of the paroled men
I got a letter from Sue and receipt for a box
Friday
5
At work making records in the Ordinance office
Got a letter from Cap
Ela
Went out at night and got a boquet
Saturday 6
Not doing much
Went out and got some flowers
Got a letter from Annie and a box from Sue
John Covade and Gen James Nye made speeches to the men
I wrote to Sue
Sunday
7
Went up to see the review of the 1st Regt Conn Vols and got a plate of strawberries
and cream.
Got a letter form Dr. Boothby and one from Capt Ela
Wrote to
Dr. B & Annie
Monday 8
Went to Washington with a squad of men to
get their pay
Paxton moved into his new quarters
Tuesday 9
Took
charge of the men to meals and the details. The magazine of Fort Lyon exploded
killing and wounding a great many.
I got a letter from Annie and wrote to
her
Wednesday 10
Got some boards to fix the tent
Got a letter form
Malve, L.G. Hine and L.D. Stephens
Wrote to Malve
Thursday 11
Got
a letter from Annie and wrote to her
Went to sleep and slept all the afternoon
Moved my desk into the ordinance tent
Friday 12
At work fixing my tent
Got a letter from LG. Hine
The invalids left the camp for Harrisburg in the
evening
Saturday 13
At work on the inside of my tent
Wrote to Cap
Ela and L.G. Hine
We had a very heavy thundershower in the afternoon
Sunday
14
Rather tired and old
Went out and got me a bouquet
Got a letter
from Annie and wrote to her
Monday 15
Built the platform to my tent
and commenced to brick my celler
Took charge of the working squad
Paxton
is gone to Washington
300 convalescents came in just at night
Tuesday
16
Sick and tired all day
I went out with fatigue squad in the forenoon
Finished my celler
Convalescents are coming in day
Wednesday 17
Sick and doing nothing
The convalescents are coming in all day and Regts are
moving to the front and up into Maryland
I wrote to Ed and Annie
In
the ordinance office taking in arms and giving receipts
Got a letter from
Annie
Friday 19
Set up my sleeping tent and began laying the floor
Archie helped me
I got a letter from Annie and wrote to her
Saturday
20
Finished laying the floor in my tent
Have got the diarrhea very bad
Sunday
21
Diarrhea no better
Got a letter from Nat Thomas
There has been
a heavy cannonading at a distance all day
Monday 22
Diarrhea worse
Lying on the bed all the time but I am not on the travel
Gen. Huntzelman inspected
the troops in camp
Wrote to Nat Thomas
Tuesday 23
Sick all day
The boys took an inventory of the ordinance on hand
I wrote to Susan
Wednesday
24
Some better but not well enough to do anything
Got a letter from Annie
and wrote to her
Thursday 25
Made out my report of Ordinance and sent
it Col. Baker
Moved my bed into the little tent
Got a letter from Annie
with a present and from Malve
Friday 26
Sent all my Ordinance to Co.
Baker and made out returns
Got a letter from wrote to Annie
Saturday
27
Writing and making out returns for the Ordinance Department
Mr. Young
and his family left here
Sunday 28
Diarrhea again
Ruling returns
for the Treasury Dept.
Got a letter from Annie and wrote to her
I went
out and got a bouquet
There was great excitement in the camp for fear that
the Rebs were coming
Did not go to bed till one o'clock
Monday 29
Feeling very miserable but am just as full of business as I can be
Receiving
and issuing arms and equipment
Rebs all round us so say report but I don't
see them
No mail from the east or north on account of rebs at Relay House
Tuesday
30
At the Ordinance office
The mail came through from Phila
Five
hundred of the men were armed and went out to Fort Corcoran
I wrote to Malve
and Annie
Wednesday, July 1, 1863
Feeling much better then I have for
a long time
300 more of the men were armed and equipped today
It is a
very pleasant day
Thursday 2
At work arming the men and making out returns
Got a letter from Annie
Friday 3
At work giving out arms and making
out returns
A very hot day and I got very tired indeed
Saturday 4
Went down to see the review and parade of the convalescents
Got a letter form
Annie and wrote to her
Went over and saw John Willey
Sunday 5
Went
out and got a few flowers
Wrote to Lt. Jackman
Called to see Miss Bradley
Monday
6
Writing and pushing the Col to build me an Armory. Warren Keniston called
to see me in the evening.
Wrote to Capt Ela
Tuesday 7
Went to Washington
with Billy Burch in the forenoon
Walked back
Did not get any satisfaction
for my pains
Wrote to Annie
Cap. Marstons children arrived here
Wednesday
8
Rainy day
Lt. Hopkins got his orders to goCincinnati
Mr. Young came
here on a visit
I got a letter from Annie
Thursday 9
Very pleasant
morning
Finishing up my returns
Hopkins and --- left
I moved their
furniture in here
Jimmy Goodyear came here to stay with me
Got a letter
from Sue and one from Annie
Friday 10
Warm day, shower in the afternoon
Jimmy went out and picked a lot of berries and I had some berries and cream,
Wrote to Sue and Annie
Saturday 11
Writing most of the day
A very
warm day
Great shower in the afternoon
Sunday 12
Went out in the
swamp after some flowers and got caught in the rain
Went into Sergt Bradleys
tent for shelter and had a great time keeping the tent from blowing over
It
was one of the hardest showers I ever saw
Sergt B. & wife staid in my
tent all night
Monday 13
Very rainy day
Made me a pen rack and ruled
returns in the forenoon
Got a letter from Annie and wrote to her in the afternoon
Tuesday
14
At work in the office
Had a shower in the afternoon
Called on Sergt
Rainey
Got a letter from Annie
Wednesday 15
Went to Washington and
found the rolls had not got in
Made out a requisition for Armorers tools
Thursday
16
Writing and looking after the work on the Armory
Wrote to Annie
Played whist in the evening with Bradley, Steel and Fits
Friday 17
Put
a window in the rear of my tent
It is a rainy, uncomfortable day
Got my
god pen from Norton
Saturday 18
Gave out arms to Lt. Espy
Put a
door in the rear of my tent
Began a letter to Annie
Capt. Marstons family
went to Fort Richardson
Sunday 19
Hot day
Got two letters from Annie
and wrote to her
Monday 20
Looking after the building of the office
and writing
Sent to Washington and learned that the pay rolls are at Louisville
Ky.
Received a box of tolls from the Arsenal
Tuesday 21
Walked to
Washington for nothing
Wednesday 22
Went to Washington again and waited
all day but was no nearer getting my pay then I was in the morning
Got a letter
from Sue, wrote to A.B. Cote
Thursday 23
Looking after the building
of the office
Got a letter from Ed Sanborn and one from Annie
Wrote to
Col Hopkins
Friday 24
Moved into my new office and set up the guns
A very hot day
Saturday 25
Was so tired that I could hardly get round
Wrote to Sue
Another hotter day
Had big shower in the night
Sunday
26
Hot day
Got a letter from Annie and wrote to her
Went out to see
the Reserves dress parade at night
Monday 27
Went to Washington and
got 8 months pay
Sent 300 dollars to Annie and 75 to Edmunds & Co.
Wrote to each of them in the evening
The P.P's tried to make a raid on the
Sulter
Tuesday 28
At the office all day
Very hot day
I wrote
to Archie Nimmo
Some disturbance with the P.P's
Wednesday 29
Sick
all day
Kept on the bed most of the time
Sent 15 dollars to Hopkins
Thursday
30
Went to Alexandria with Lt. Westbrook
Got me a pair of pants and some
dishes
I got a letter from Annie and wrote to her
I got a letter from
Edmunds & Co and wrote to them
Friday 31
Got a letter from Cad Hopkins
and wrote to here
Cate called to see me and went to the Hospital
I set
up my desk
Saturday, August 1, 1863
At the office
It is a very hot
day indeed
I got a letter from Annie and wrote to her
Sunday 2
Called
to see Cate at the Hospital and Miss Bradley
Went up to Camp Bernard
Got
a letter from Edmunds & Co.
Monday 3
Writing in the office
Cate
was here in the afternoon
I spent the evening at Paxtons
Tuesday 4
Writing at the office
Had a picture of my tent taken
Cap Marston had a
picture of his tent taken
I called at Sergt Bradleys in the evening
Wednesday
5
At work taking in arms all day
Sent Lieut F.T. Stewart twenty five dollars
I received two letters from Annie
Thursday 6
Went to Washington after
Annie
She arrived at eleven and we got here between one and two
Friday
7
At work in the office and fixing up for house keeping
Wrote to Father,
Mother, Chapman and Abby. Dr, Lyman cand wife left camp
Sent F.T. Stewart
30 dollars
Saturday 8
Loafing round from my tent to the office
Rather
a warm day
Got a letter from Gen Ripley
Annie and I called at Sergt Bradleys
in the evening
Sunday 9
Very warm
At home all day
I wrote to
Sue
Monday 10
At work in the office
Annie and I called at Mrs
Tuesday
11
Making out a new Quarterly return for Gen. Ripley
Wednesday 12
Not doing much
Wrote to Ed Sanborn
Thursday
Went to Washington and
carried my report for the2d Quarter 1863
Annie and I went out to the grove
yard to a walk
Friday 14
At the office most of the day
Called at
Sergt Bradleys in the afternoon
Saturday 15
Went to Washington to see
about transferring the Ordinance
Sunday 16
Annie and I went up to Fort
Barnard in company with Sergt Bradley and wife
I got a letter from Ann Cass
and wrote to her
Annie and I called at the Ord Office in the afternoon
Monday
17
At work all day packing Ordinance Stores to go to Washington
Got a
letter from Lt. Jackman
Sent Capt Marston forty dollars
Tuesday 18
Taking account of the Ordinance to carry to Washington
Annie and went to a
walk in the evening
We went over on the hill beyond the Alexandria Pike
Wednesday
19
Went to Washington with the arms, turned them over to Col Ramsay
Got
a letter form Abby Weeks
Thursday 20
Writing and witnessing pay rolls
Got a letter from Sue, wrote to her, Lt. Jackman and Capt Ela
Friday
21
At the office and witnessing pay rolls
Saturday 22
At the office
Joe went to Washington
Sunday 23
Got a letter from Cap Ela
Annie
and I went over on the hill beyond the railroad in the evening
Monday 24
Got a letter from Ann Cass
My throat began to be sore
Tuesday 25
In my tent most of the day
Have a bad cold and sore throat
Had a sleight
touch of the shakes in the night
A cool night and rainy
Wednesday 26
A very cool morning
Got a letter from Major Wells
Wrote to Cap Ela, Archie
Nimmo, Major Wells. Ann Cass and Susan
Thursday 27
At work in the office
Friday
28
Went to Washington with Annie --- the Capitol
Came home in a hack
Got a letter from Ed Sanborn, Paxton and Westbrook
Came in and played Eucher
in the evening
Saturday 29
At home and at the office
Do not feel
very well
Got a letter from Cad Hopkins
Wrote to Father, sent the letter
that I wrote to Sue Wednesday this morning with 20 dollars enclosed
Sunday
30
Wrote to Abby. Annie and I went out and got a few flowers. Called at Capt.
Marstons in the evening with Annie
Monday 31
Made my requisition for
stationary
A very cool day
Charlie Evans called
Jimmy was examined
by Dr. Heighold for his discharge
Tuesday, September 1, 1863
Entering
invoices and receipts
Lt. Westbrook spent the evening here
Wednesday
2
Entering Invoices and receipts
Wrote to Ed Sanborn in the evening
Thursday
3
At home most of the day
Day got a letter from Dr. Peabody, wrote a certificate
to send to him.
Lt. Stewart took command of Camp of (Brown?) day
Wrote
to Ed Sanborn
Charlie Hunter and his wife called in the evening
Friday
4
At home most of the day
Got a letter from Dr. Peabody and wrote a certificate
to send him.
Lt Stewart took command of Camp Distribution
Saturday 5
At the office and at home
Westbrook spent the evening here
Got a letter
from Cate
Sunday 6
Wrote to Charlie
Monday 7
At the office
getting ready to move arms to Washington
Got a letter from Archie
Went
to the dress parade of the Conn Art
Lt. Westbrook spent the evening here
Tuesday
8
At work packing arms for Washington
Got a letter from Charlie and wrote
to him
Wednesday 9
Went to Washington with the arms
Sergt Bradley's
wife went home
I wrote to Ben Robinson
Thursday 10
At the office
most of the day
Friday 11
Received a letter from Abby Weeks
Saturday
12
Beginning to make out my Ordinance return
Jimmy started for home
I received a letter from Ben Robinson
Westbrook spent the evening here
Sunday
13
At home all day
Wrote to Cad Hopkins and Archie Nimmos
Monday
14
At work in the office
Westbrook spent the evening here
Tuesday
15
At work in the office
Got a letter from Sue
Called at Miss Bradley's
in the afternoon
Wednesday 16
At home most of the day
Got a letter
from Ben Robinson
Lt. Stewart paid me 55 dollars that he borrowed
Thursday
17
Went to Washington
Annie went with me
Ben Robinson came over with
Annie
I went to the Arsenal and drew 1500 stand of Arms and came home
With Capt Ellison in the Eve, I got a letter from Charlie
Friday 18
Unloading the arms & equipments in the rain
Got a letter from Lt Jackman
Wrote to Cap Ela and Charlie Brown
Saturday 19
At the office
A
rather cool day
I got a letter from Dr. Peabody
Sunday 20
Cool and
windy
I wrote to Lt.Jackman
Westbrook and myself went over to see the
Negro Regt in the evening
Monday 21
At work at the office
Another
cool day
Tuesday 22
At the office
Cool and windy
General inspection
of the Camp
Westbrook spent the evening with us playing Eucher
Wednesday
23
Pleasant day
I was at the office sorting the equipment
Thursday
24
At work at the office
I got a new stove for the office but did not
set it up
Friday 25
At work at the office most of the day
I got
a stove and set it up in my tent
I got a letter from Cad Hopkins and her Photograph
by Stewart
Stewart took supper here
Saturday 26
Issued arms and
equipments to 300 of the paroled prisoners
Sunday 27
Issued arms to
200 of the paroled prisoners
Went over to hart Barry in the afternoon with
Annie, in the evening I wrote to Father
Monday 28
Armed 168 Paroled
Prisoners
Got a letter and certificate from Capt. Ela
Tuesday 29
Armed 260 Paroled Prisoners
Got a letter from Charlie Brown
Wrote to Susan
Wednesday
30
Went to Washington with arms
Got paid for four months
Sent Sue
530 dollars
Thursday, October 1, 1863
At the office making out my returns
Received a letter from James Brown Philadelphia
Friday 2
Armed 47 of
the paroled men
It was a very rainy day
Lt Westbrook spent the evening
here
I wrote to Susan
Saturday 3
At work at the office
Wrote
to Charlie and sent home a picture of the camp
Sunday 4
Went out to
a walk with Annie in the afternoon
Visited Fort Richardson and went round
the hill by the reserve camp
Wrote to James Brown in the eve
Monday
5
Getting ready to carry the arms to Washington
Tuesday 6
Went to
Washington with the arms
Annie went with me and called at the Smithsonian
Institute
Mrs. Hunter went home
Wednesday 7
At work all day making
out abstracts of receipts of Ordinance
Got a letter from Abby Weeks
Thursday
8
At work making out abstracts of issues of Ordinacne
Got a letter from
Ann Cass
Lt Westbrook spent the evening playing Eucre with Annie
Friday
9
At work on the return
Saturday 10
At work on the return, finished
it up and got it ready to send off
Paxton went home on a leave of absence
Sunday
11
At home all day
Wrote to Charlie. Cad Hopkins and Archie Nimmo
Monday
12
At the office squaring up the Ordinance accounts
Tuesday 13
At
the office and putting in a linen to Bens tent
Archie is off on a bender
Wednesday
14
At the office
Archie got home
I sent my return to the Ordinance
office
Lt. Westbrook spent the evening here
Thursday 15
At the office,
and lining my tent
Got a letter from Jimmy
Friday 16
Very rainy
day
At home most of the day
Worked a little on the lining of my tent
Saturday
17
Sitting in the house most of the day
Got a letter from Mr. Zanes of
Suncook
Wrote to him and to Mr. Farland & Jenks
Sunday 18
Got
a letter from Sue and wrote to her and to Lucy
Sent 10 dollars to each
In the afternoon I went with Paxton & Westbrook to see the Negro Regt.
Monday
19
At the office and putting the lining into my tent
Lt. Westbrook spent
the evening here
Tuesday 20
At home most of the day
Got a letter
from Cad Hopkins
Mrs. Westbrook came to camp
Wednesday 21
At the
office most of the cat
Called at Lt Westbrooks in the afternoon with Annie
I called to see Barton (?)
Paxton in the evening
Thursday 22
At
the office in the forenoon, in the afternoon I called to se Zanes at Capt. Paxton's
office and to see Barton Paxton
In the evening I wrote to Jimmy
Friday
23
At home most of the day
Saturday 24
Rainy day
I received
N.H. Statesmen from Mr Farlon & Jenks
In the afternoon I went to Alexandria
with Lt. Westbrook
Got me a pair of boots
Sunday 25
Did not go out
anywhere
Annie is sick with a cold
Paxton called
Monday 26
At
the office
Annie's cold is no better
We cot a letter from Charlie
Tuesday
27
At the office and lining the bedroom
Paxton and Westbrook spent the
evening here playing Eucher
Wednesday 28
Very pleasant day
Annie's
cold worse
I got letters from James Brown & Ed Sanborn. I wrote to Charlie
and Mrs. Hopkins
Thursday 29
Packing arms all day and getting ready
to go to Washington
Friday 30
Went to Washington with the arms
Got
me a pair of gloves
Saturday 31
Rainy in the forenoon, very pleasant
in the afternoon
I got a letter from Lucy
Sunday, November 1, 1863
Very pleasant day
Annie and I went over to the Negro Regt with Lt. Westbrook
and wife and Lt. Noble and wife
Monday 2
Finished lining my tent and
put a door into the cook tent
I got a letter from Charlie
Tuesday 3
Annie went to Washington with Lt. Westbrook and wife
I got letters from Archie
and Jimmy Goodyear and a box from Epsom
I wrote to Ann Cass
Wednesday
4
Ben went to Washington
I was round home most of the time
I wrote
to Charlie Brown
Thursday 5
Round home not doing much
Wrote to Ed
Sanborn and Jimmy Goodyear
Friday 6
At home and at the office
Nothing
new in camp
Saturday 7
At home most of the day
Sunday 8
Annie
and I went through the barracks with Lt. Westbrook
Ben went over to see the
Negro Regt.
Monday 9
At the office most of the day
We had the first
snow squall for the season
Annie and I went to hear Skiffs Minstrels in the
evening
Tuesday 10
At the office
Had rather a busy day
Paxton
& Westbrook spent the evening here
Wednesday 11
At the office making
out my Quartermaster returns
I got a letter from Charlie
Thursday 12
Put up a sign on the office in the forenoon
Went to Fairfax Seminary and Alexandria
with Lt. Westbrook and Wife in the afternoon
I spent the evening at Paxtons
Friday
13
At the office
I got a letter from Lt. Jackman
Paxton & Westbrook
spent the evening here
Dr. Boothly and wife called to see us in the afternoon
Saturday
14
At the office
Annie and I spent the evening at Lieut Westbrooks
It was a very rainy night
Sunday 15
At home all day
I wrote to Charley,
Lt. Jackman & Archie
Monday 16
At the office
Annie washed
Tuesday
17
At the office
Annie went over to Reserve Salters with Mrs. Westbrook
Wednesday
18
At the office
I got a letter from Charlie Brown
The Camp was inspected
by Gen. Auger & Staff
Annie and I went out to see the review
Thursday
19
At the office
I got a letter from Abby Weeks
Annie and I called
at Miss Bradleys and Lt. Westbrooks in the eve
Wrote to Sue by LaForge
Friday
20
At the office and --- Grs. Wrote to Charlie
The paymaster was here
Saturday
21
At the office
A rainy day
The Segrt went to Washington in the afternoon
I wrote to James Brown
Sunday 22
A very pleasant day
I got a letter
from Charlie
Col. McKelvy was relieved from duty and left camp.
Monday
23
At the office
General Abercrombie came to camp and took command
Tuesday
24
Rainy day
I got my pay for Sept & Oct of Major Reynolds
Wednesday
25
Annie and I went to Washington
Lt. Westbrook went with us
I sent
60 dollars to Sue
Thursday 26
Took dinner at Lt. Westbrooks
Paxton
& Westbrook spent the evening here
Charlie Evans called
Friday 27
Annie went to Washington with Mrs. Westbrook
I wrote to Charlie Brown
Lt. Westbrook got his muster out papers
Saturday 28
At the office
It is a rainy day
I got a letter from Lt. Jackman and wrote to him
Sunday
29
At home all day
It is rather a cold day
Monday 30
At home
and at the office all day
Tuesday, December 1, 1863
Went to Alexandria
and called to see Lt. Hays formerly of Co. D 6th NHV
Genl Abercrombie was
relieved from duty here
Wednesday 2
At home and at the office all day
Gen. Aebercrombie was put in command of the camp again
I went to Washington
in the evening with Capt. Chamberlain
Thursday 3
At the office
I
received a letter from Susan Charlie Brown
Most of the officers of camp went
over to the inauguration of the Contraband Camp
Friday 4
A very pleasant
day
Lt. Westbrook and wife left camp for home
Saturday 5
At the
office most of the day
I put the fly on to my small tent
Wrote to Capt.
Ela
Sunday 6
At home all day
Paxton spent the afternoon and took
supper here
Wrote to Abby Weeks
Monday 7
At the office
Got a
letter from Charlie, I wrote to him and to Susan
Sent some papers to Capt.
Ella
Lent Eu Richmond ten dollars
Tuesday 8
At the office packing
equipments
I wrote to Lucy Cass and Jimmy Goodyear
Gen. Abercrombie was
relieved from the command of this camp
(Good)
Wednesday 9
At the
office
Paxton spent a part of the evening here
Col. McKelvy came back
to camp
The officers of camp presented him a set of equipments
Thursday
10
At the office
I got a letter from Archie Nimmo
The officers of
camp presented Col. McKelvy with a set of equipments
Friday 11
At the
office in the forenoon
I set out some trees in the afternoon
Called at
Paxtons office in the evening
Saturday 12
Rainy day
I got a letter
from Emma and Charlie Chapman
Sunday 13
At home all day
Paxton and
his brother called
It is a very pleasant day
Annie is not very well
Monday
14
At the office most of the day
Capt. Paxton spent the evening here
Mrs. Sailor went home
Annie is not so well
Tuesday 15
At home most
of the with Annie who is not so well as she was yesterday
Annie got a letter
from Mrs. Westbrook
The Russians visited the Camp
Barton, Paxton &
Frank Barton spent the evening here
Wednesday 16
At the office in the
forenoon
Annie is better
I went to Washington in the afternoon
I got
a line from Capt. Ela
Thursday 17
At home most of the day
Annie
is not so well
I got letters for Ed and James Brown
I wrote to Capt. Ela,
Charlie Brown & Emma Marden & got a letter from Lucy Cass
I wrote
to Mrs. Westbrook in the eve
Friday 18
At home all day
Began making
out the abstracts for my return
Annie is about the same
Barton, Paxton
spent the evening here playing Chess
Saturday 19
At home all day
Got a letter and package from Susan
Annie is better
I wrote to James Brown,
Archie Nimmo and Susan
Sunday 20
At home all day
Monday 21
At home all day
Annie is about the same
Tuesday 22
At the office
packing Guns and equipments to send to Washington
Wrote to McFarland &
Jenks
Wednesday 23
Sent my extra arms to Washington
Annie is better
Thursday
24
At home all day making out Quartermasters returns
Got a letter from
Abby Weeks
I wrote to Lucy in the evening
The Sergt went to Washington
to stop all night
Friday 25
The men had a dinner of roast Turkey and
pudding at the dining rooms
I went up to the Pa Division to see them with
dinner
I got a letter from Malve
Saturday 26
At home most of the
day
Annie and I walked out after dinner
Went down the office the commissarys
and the kitchens
Paxton and I played chess in the eve
I won 4 of 7 games
Sunday
27
At home all day
It is a rainy day
Monday 28
Rainy day at
home most of the day
I wrote to Malve
Tuesday 29
At the office most
of the day packing equipments to go to Washington
I went to a presentation
to Capt. Crawford in the evening
Wednesday 30
At the office packing
guns
A very pleasant day
Thursday 31
Rainy all day
I went to
Washington with arms
I got a letter from James Brown