Joseph B. Martin

Whitestown, Butler County, Pa.

Joseph B. Martin's diary

Bought January 8, 1862 in Camp Tennally near Washington D.C. Price 25 cts.

Wednesday, January 1

Myself and I.N. Hayes and S. Myers are on guard at Camp Tennally. It's pretty warm. No snow. Is clear. Got marching orders, and cooked tow days provisions, and received 100 rounds of cartridges for each man. Was knapsack drill in forenoon. The officers had quite a spree toknight.

Thursday, January 2

Came off guard and got breakfast at nine o'clock. Company drill at half past nine. Friday,

January 3

Was regimental drill in forenoon and company drill in afternoon.

Saturday, January 4

No drill, pretty cool. Dress parade in evening.

Sunday, January 5

Company was out on picket. I was helping to guard some prisoners at the brigade guardhouse. Did not get relieved. Mr. M. F. White came to camp today on a visit. Was dress parade and preaching in the evening.

Monday, January 6

Did not get relieved from guard until ten o'clock. Did not get my breakfast till I came off. Mr. M. F. White starts for home today. Snowed an inch or so last knight. Is pretty cold. No drill. Dress parade in evening.

Tuesday, January 7

Pretty cool. No drill. Did not do much today. Dress parade in evening. Wednesday,

January 8

No drill today on account of some snow on the ground. Was pretty cold in morning. Pleasant through the day. Is cloudy. Dress parade at half past four in evening had crackers, bread, meat and coffee. Is reported in camp that they are fighting on the other side of the river. Are expecting marching orders. Did not get any.

Thursday, January 9

No drill on account of bad weather. This morning was slippy (sic). Thawed today and got muddy. Is cloudy and warm. Mr. P. Bulford and Shale Barclay came to camp being at home on a furlow. Was no dress parade today. Have bread and fresh meat today. Have nothing more to write at present. Washed at the run this morning.

Friday, January 10

Rained considerable last knight. Is warm. Is a very thick fog all day. Am on guard at the gate. Was no drill or dress parade. Had bread and fresh beef today. Sprinkled rain last knight. Is very muddy. Lewis White was on guard today. Lieutenant Crooks paid the boys their money that he lost for them. Washed myself thoroughly.

Saturday, January 11

Ground a little froze this morning. The company reported for picket this morning. I. N. Hayes and S. Myers is in camp guard, third relief, is fifteen on a relief. Had another good wash. Is some artillery going to Washington from Banks division. Regimental drill in forenoon. Dress parade in evening. Cap McLaughlin is officer of the day. Got fresh bread today and are to get it every day from this time.

Sunday, January 12

Rained some last knight. Warm and muddy this morn. Very cloudy. Was inspection of arms and knapsacks this morn. Dress parade and preaching in eve by Chap A. M. Stewart. Lieu Crooks is Lieu of the guard. Washed myself thoroughly. Is so warm we can go in shirt sleeves.

Monday, January 13

Is windy and cool all day, ground not froze. Was regimental drill in morn. Company drill in afternoon. Dress parade in evening. Got one pair of socks that was sent from Butler Co. The dress hats came today. Our mess bought a table from Sutler, Blackamore for &T5.

Tuesday, January 14

Snowed an inch last knight, and some today. Is cool and some wind. We got our dress hats today. Also plume and band and fastener for the rim of the hat. Our mess bought three pans and four knives and forks. Was dress parade in evening with dress hats on. No drill today. Had fresh meat and bread and coffee.

Wednesday, January 15

Misted. Rain all day. The trees are all covered with ice. Is cold and disagreeable, was no drill today of any kind, and no dress parade, I. M. White is on guard today at the guardhouse.

Thursday, January 16

Morning is pleasant. Sun shines. Ground is very slippy. Guard is mounted at half past eight, J. Kaltenbaugh is Corporal of the guard. Washed myself this morning at the run. The Surgeon General inspected our Camp, he said it was the cleanest of 55 that he inspected. Was dress parade at four o'clock. Is very slippy. Sent letter home this morn recd a letter from G. Robinson.

Friday, January 17

Washed myself. Am on guard at the old Sutlers (Blackamore) L. C. White is on guard. Cap McLaughlin is officer of the day. Seargeant Lyon is Seargeant of the guard. Am on the second relief Recd a letter from home this evening. Is pretty muddy and damp. No drill of any kind nor dress parade. Was heavy firing on other side of the river between ten and eleven P.M.

Saturday, January 18

Breakfast at eight and got dismissed from guard at nine. S. Myers and I. N. Hayes is on guard, the former at the old and the latter at the new Sutlers. Day is disagreeable and muddy. Was no drill or dress parade. Wilson K. Potts is here on a visit from the eleventh Penn Regiment. The evening ended in reading books and newspapers.

At The Sutlers Store, A Lively Group

Sunday, January 19                                            

Rained last knight, is very muddy. The company went out on picket, I did not go. M. White, L. C. White, M. P. Hayes, J. H. Randolph, W. M. Martin, went out with the company. There was no inspection or dress parade. It is very disagreeable out of doors today. Rained some. Mr. Ely Black came to camp, being home on a furlow. Was no wood came in camp today. We are all well.

Monday, January 20

Rained some last knight. Sprinkled some through the day. Is warm but unpleasant. Was no drill of any kind today, nor dress parade. D. B. Douthert returned to camp being home on a furlough. The payrolls came in today and were signed by the Company. Recd a letter this evening from G. A. Martin.

Tuesday, January 21

Is very muddy, misted rain some. Was no drill of any kind nor dress parade on account of the bad weather. Major Hoope paid off our regiment today. We recd twenty-six dollars a piece. All treasury notes except one dollar.

Wednesday, January 22

There is half an inch of snow this morning. Is no drill of any kind today nor dress parade. The pedlars (sic) is in camp today en mass. Received a letter from H. A. Bryson this eve.

Thursday, January 23

Ground is froze a little is not very cold. Lewis Koon and myself got a pass from our Captain and Colonel and went across the river to the eleventh Reg P. R. C. on a visit. We went out to their line of pickets the Butler County company was out on picket. They were all well. Was no drill nor dress parade. Gen Smiths Brigade went out on a foraging expedition this evening.

Friday, January 24

Pretty cool, the ground a little froze. Koon and myself started from camp Pierpont at noon. and reached Camp at three o'clock. Was Reg drill in forenoon and company drill in afternoon, and dress parade in evening. I received two letters this eve one from home and one from L. H. Edmundson. Mother is not very well. I. N. Hayes and S. Myers is on guard. Is 30 on a relief.

Saturday, January 25

Snowed and sleeted last knight, is half an inch of snow this morn. Rained some today and melted the snow off. There was no drill or dress parade on account of the bad weather. Wrote a letter to L. H. Edmundson.

Sunday, January 26

The ground is froze pretty hard this morn. Sunshines pleasant. Was inspection of arms this morn. E. L. Koon, M. P. Hayes, I. H. Randolph is on guard today. There was no Preaching today in camp. There was dress parade in the evening. The day was spent in reading of books and newspapers.

Monday, January 27

Had breakfast. The guard is mounted. The company practiced at target shooting. Recd a box of butter from Whitestown. Wrote a letter home today and sent them the rose of Washington. I bought a box of for $1.00 containing 40 sheets of paper 40 envelopes, 1 pencil 1 pen holder, 2 steel pens, 1 docket. Was dress parade, Colonel Rowly had a sword presented by the chaplain A. M. Stewart.

Tuesday, January 28

Rained and froze on the trees. Is muddy, Was no drill no dress parade. W. M. Martin is on guard at the guardhouse.

Wednesday, January 29

Is foggy and very muddy. Pretty warm. Was no drill nor dress parade. I. M. White and L. C. White is on guard. I. N. Hayes and M. P. Hayes, S. Myers, and myself went to the 55th N. Y. Regt. and got our likenesses taken. My likeness cost fifty cts. Was put in a locket.

Thursday, January 30

Rained some. Is very muddy. No drill nor dress parade. Mr. Robert Hayes came to see us today, he says the folks is all well at home. S. Myers, I. N. Hayes, L. C. White is on camp guard.

Friday, January 31

Is very muddy. Misted rain some. M. P. Hayes is on guard. Got my likeness taken at the 55th N. Y. Regt. by Mr. Adams, it cost $1.50. Is in a case.