JULY 1862

Tuesday, July 1

Is extremely warm all day. The fight begins to day at noon and continues all afternoon. Our Regiment lay under the fire of a Rebel Battery commanded by regulars and were exposed to the rebel sharpshooters. There was sixty nine of our Regt killed and wounded. There was no one hurt in our Company. Corporal Cowan shot his thumb off accidentally.

Wednesday, July 2

The troops all started on the march this morning towards City Point on the James River four or five miles below Harris Landing. It rained nearly all day and is very muddy and hard marching. Maj Poland was wounded in the thigh by a canister (sic) shot which prved (sic) fatal. We camped within half a mile of the River opposite City Point.

Thursday, July 3

Was cold last night. The Rebels threw some shell into our Camp this morning but were taken, was seven pieces. Maj Poland was buried this morning under a large Pin Oak tree the Chaplain delivered a short address. The Regt started on the march this afternoon and L. C. White, J. M. White, and myself and others that was not very well stayed in camp.

Friday, July 4

Last night very cool. The flags on the ship masts is flying to the breeze. Sun shines very warm and pleasant. J. M. White and myself was down at the river and bought a plug of tobacco for twenty cents and half a pound of butter for twenty five cents. Is two boats lying there with some forty mortars on. The bands (sic) is playing and troops drilling.

The Music That Stayed With The Soldiers – Talty’s Fifers and Drummers

Saturday, July 5

Very nice and warm. There is details made out of Regiment to work on the Forts and breastworks. The Brigade moved back quarter of a mile to give place to another Division, the mail came in this evening having been kept back for a week. I received a letter from home, also J.M. White and L.C. White and M. P. Hayes, all well at home.

Sunday, July 6

Got up at four. Was roll call. Got breakfast. Wrote a letter home and sent ten dollars in it. Is very warm and clear. The Balloon was up this morning. Was two mails came in to day. J.M. White and L.C. White got four each. Roll call at noon. Read in the Bible and religious newspaper. Was at church this evening, sermon preached by the Chaplain. Roll call and inspection of arms. McClellan's order was read.

Monday, July 7

Up at four. Roll call. Got breakfast and wrote a letter to W. M. Martin. Is a great deal of firing of cannon this morning, suppose it is salutes. Roll call at noon. Is one of the hotest days of the season. Wrote a letter to A.C. Martin this evening. Had a wash in the mill race this evening. We drew three days rations of crackers. We bought eight lbs smoked meat at 8 1/2 cts per lb, was prayer meeting this evening.

Tuesday, July 8

Up at four. Roll call. Set bushes around the tent. Is very hot to day again. Recd a letter from Eveline Martin yesterday evening. Roll call at noon. Was twenty men detailed out of the company to work on Fortifications. The troops were all in line this evening to receive the President, he past us at dusk. Was preaching in evening by Rev Steel of Phila, was a good Orator. All is quiet here.

 On The March, Water For The Inner And The Outer Man

Wednesday, July 9

Roll call in morning. Went to the River and washed a pair of socks. Wrote a letter to Wm C. Martin. Roll call at noon. Very warm but is a cool breeze blowing. The 115th Regiment went past here this evening. The muster rolls is being made out to day. Was roll call and inspection in evening we got cartridges to the amount of sixty rounds. Was prayer meeting this evening.

Thursday, July 10

Up at four, roll call and mustered in for pay by Captain McLaughlin. Roll call at noon. The Balloon was up in the afternoon. Is very hot. In afternoon begins to cloud up and blow, rains a very heavy shower before dark. Drew three days rations of crackers and coffee, sugar, and beans and meat with some potatoes and onions. Was no prayer meeting this evening. All quiet.

Friday, July 11

Rained some last night, also some to day. Is cool and pleasant. Roll call in the morning at noon and at night. Bought twenty five cents worth of cakes and the same amount of cheese from the Sutler of the 55th Regiment New York Volunteers. All is quiet along the lines. Make coffee and have supper at dusk, no prayer meeting.

                                            At The Sutlers – A Lively Group

Saturday, July 12

Cool last night. Is quite pleasant to day. Roll call in the morning and noon and in the evening, also inspection of arms in evening. Got one days rations of fresh beef with a quantity of salt. The Balloon was up this evening at the River. Was some forty Rebels taken prisoner to day. Fixed our shanty. Lieut Crooks and Brinker got their resignation papers. Was prayer meeting.

Sunday, July 13

Roll call in morning. Lieut Crooks and Brinker started for home this morning. Roll call at noon. L. Barclay and Robt Lyon is Lieuts of our company and Isaac Stewart Orderly Sargeant. Roll call and inspection in evening. The Rev Mr. McCallie and Rev Mr. Sterling each delivered a short discourse to the Regiment this evening. McCallie spoke from the text Godliness is profitable in all things. All quiet.

Monday, July 14

Roll call in the morning. J. M. White came off of camp guard this evening. Roll call at noon. The Brigade was inspected this forenoon by General Keys and General Howe. Is very hot all day. The companies in the Regiment, is digging drains and repairing up the camp this evening. Was on guard this evening, got sick and had to get C. Swidering to stand in my place. Was prayer meeting.

Tuesday, July 15

Roll call in morning and noon. Went to the Doctors this morning and got some rhubarb and other mixtures. Am very weak. Went to the River part of the day. Mr. John Miller and Wm A. A. Wasson returned to the Regiment this afternoon, they look very well. Roll call and inspection in evening. Clouds up and thunders and rains very hard in evening. No prayer meeting.

Wednesday, July 16

Up at five, roll call. Went to the Doctors and got stuff to give me an appetite, feel pretty well only weak. Our mess got half peck potatoes at qr Masters for fifteen cents, also three lbs onions for 15 cts. Was Regimental drill in forenoon for an hour and half. Roll call at noon. Clouds up in the afternoon and is a very great storm of wind and rain in evening. Heard thunder and sharp lightening. No prayer meeting.

Thursday, July 17

Up at five, roll call, got breakfast. Went to James River and bathed and washed a handkerchief. Drill in forenoon, roll call at noon. 1. N. Hays and Geo. W. Boreland got their discharge papers signed by the Capt., Regtl Surgeon, the Medical department at Gen Keys Hdqr's. Is very warm, clouds up in the evening and rains a smart shower. I. M. White goes on Camp Guard this

evening. No prayer meeting on account of bad weather.

Friday, July 18

Rained some last night. Roll call at five oclock morning. Went to the 101st Regiment in forenoon. Drill at nine. Roll call at noon. Isaac N. Hays got his discharge papers this evening all filled out. In the evening is roll call and inspection of arms and dress parade. Is cloudy and misted rain some, wind is blowing and is quite cool. We got five pounds of flour and two and half pounds of dried apples. Was prayer meeting this evening.

Saturday, July 19

Up at five, roll call. Had breakfast. I. N. Hays and Geo W. Boreland went aboard the John J. Warner this morning to proceed to their homes. M. P. Hays seen them aboard. Was drill in forenoon. Roll call at noon. Went to the River in the evening, the watter being too cold I did not go in. Drew days rations of fresh beef. Roll call and inspection in evening. Cloudy and cool all day. Was prayer meeting this evening. All quiet.

Sunday, July 20

Sun rose clear. Is very warm. Roll call in the morning, also inspection of arms. Have a very bad Diarhea, and pain in my stomach, also lightness in my head. Went to the Doctors. Roll call at noon. The day passed off in comparative quietness. Samuel E. Sullivan came back to camp this evening he was home on a furlough. Was preaching this evening. Roll call. Some canonading (sic) to day.

Monday, July 21

Received a letter from W. M. Martin. Roll call in morning. Regimental drill in forenoon. Roll call at noon. We drew one days rations of fresh beef and some onions. The company drew and gave out to the men some Knapsacks and Haversacks. Went to the Doctors and got some stuff to cure the diarhea (sic). have a bad pain in my stomach. Roll call and dress parade in the evening. Was prayer meeting.

Tuesday, July 22

Got up, roll call, had breakfast. Regimental drill in the forenoon, the Regiment was commanded by Capt McLaughlin. Went to the doctors. Roll call at noon. Day is cool and cloudy. Sprinkled rain some. The Regiment went out on picket this evening. I received a letter from home this evening stating all well at home, also eight postage stamps. Was prayer meeting this evening.

Wednesday, July 23

Day is quite pleasant. Wrote a letter to Wm M. Martin. Bought half a pound of butter for twenty five cents also one herring for the same. Is cloudy and sprinkled rain some. L. C. White and myself were down at the James River and took at bathe (sic). Gen Heintzlemans Corps. was reviewed this forenoon. The Regt returned from picket this evening. Was prayer meeting.

Thursday, July 24

Up at five, roll call. Regimental drill for an hour and a half. Roll call at noon. Day is very hot. Drew days rations of fresh beef and salt. Wrote one letter home in the afternoon. General How's Brigade was reviewed this afternoon for an hour, General Erasmus D. Keys was present. L.C. White was detailed for to attend the Hospital. Roll call and prayer meeting in evening.

Friday, July 25

Got up bought half pound of butter for twenty five cents, had breakfast. Roll call. Regiment was inspected by an inspecting Officer. Went to the River and bathed. Regt drew tents. Comp drew haversacks and knapsacks. Is very warm. Dress parade in the evening. Bought five heads of cabbage for 25 cts, and 12 herring for 20 cts. Drew sugar and coffee. Prayer meeting in the evening. All quiet.

Saturday, July 26

Got up, had breakfast, roll call. No drill. The Regt cleaned up streets also eight rods in the woods. The Regt drew pants and blouses, I drew one blouse. Sargeant Robert Lyon returned to the company from the Hospital at Washington, he being wounded at the battle of Fairoaks. Sargeant S. E. Sullivan got a furlough for sixty days. Roll call at noon. We moved and built a tent, put a floor in it. Quite a hard rain in the evening. No prayer meeting.

Sunday, July 27

Roll call. Regimental inspection in forenoon. Got one day's rations of fresh beef. Day very warm and sultry. Carson Dunbar got out of his head last night and run off, the Captain and others hunted for him to day but without success. The Cavalry brought in a man out of Hookers Division that was trying to desert. Dress parade. Was preaching by Alward. Received a letter from F. Martin.

Monday, July 28

Got up. Roll call. The Regt went to the River and bathed in morning. Eight companies went out on picket at eight in the morning and the rest had drill for an hour and half. I washed a shirt and one pair of pants in forenoon. Went to the River in the evening and bathed. The day is very hot think it is as high as one hundred. Was prayer meeting in the evening at dusk. All appears quiet about here.

Tuesday, July 29

Sun is very hot but is a nice cool air going. The company drew cabbage and potatoes, onions, rice and beans, sugar and coffee. The companies on picket came to camp at noon. Looks like rain. The companies not on picket drilled in the forenoon for an hour and half, also for the same time in the afternoon. Was prayer meeting in the evening.

Wednesday, July 30

Got up. Roll call. Had corn cakes for breakfast. The Regiment, went down to the River and bathed. Was Regimental drill for an hour and half in the forenoon. Roll call at noon. There was inspection and review of the Brigade by Brigadier General Howe. Was no letters came for the Whitestown boys. Rained some in the evening. Was prayer meeting.

Thursday, July 31

Roll call. Had breakfast. Regimental drill for an hour and half. Begins to rain at nine oclock and rains pretty steady till night. Roll call at noon at which time all was present or accounted for. William Kennedy got a pass from the provost Marshall and started for home this morning. No drill in the afternoon. Was prayer meeting in the evening.