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DIARY OF WILLIAM McADAMS
CINCINNATI, OHIO
OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY - Cos. B. 32nd O VI
Jan. 1, AD 1864 - at Vicksburg, Miss.
Jan. 4, the 32nd reenlisted as Veterans for three years,
and was mustered to date from the first of Jan. 1864.
Jan. 3rd, the 16th or 17th Army Corps start for a
campaign in Mississippi go to Black River first day.
Feb. sth is warm. Skirmish Sh Cirus Reed mortally
wounded. Go into Jackson that night, forward next day, reach
Meridian on the 15th and 16th of Feb. Start back the 17th
(come view, Canton bureau?) cars or locomotives
(nursbring?) as guard trains in from Canton. (Not sure of
words in parenthesis)
Mar. 3rd The Army returns to Vicksburg, Mar. 4 - Start
for Home
March 16th, 1864 Arrive at Home
March 25, Have a big dance at Miss Doret’s and a
supper.
April Ist, 1864 - A dinner at Aunt Lydia Keyes - have a
good time.
At Milford the 12th -a dance
April 16. Left home for Columbus, Ohio - Go to barracks
April 17th - At church in Columbus, Ohio
April 18th - Leave Columbus - Arrive Cincinnati - Go to
6th St. Barracks
April 19 - Leave Cincinnati at 12; Arrive at Louisville at
midnight. On duty on board the Colosslis.
April 12 - Arrive at Cairo, Dl ; disembark, draw tents,
etc. The now veterans return to our Company.
April 22 - Rainy day in camp - On detail to dig a sink. Lot
of recruits
April 23 - Very muddy
April 25 - Sunshine. One year from the campaign of
Vicksburg commencing.
April 26 - Sunshine - April 27 - Raindy day. Got on board
the boat Illinois helped to land wagons after dark - it rains
very hard.
April 28 - Finish loading, drew rations and start up
river.
April 29th - Pass Paducah and on the Tenn. River. Pass
Ft. Henry - tfalt at night. Very dark and rainy.
April 30th - On board the Illinois on the Tenn. River.
Fine country-all in green. Arrive at Clifton, go in shore.
Provost guards slept in a Church. My first fine day. Wash,
change quarters. Saw a girl in the evening at Clifton. One
year from the Battle of Fort Gibson.
May 2nd, 1864 - Fine morning. Led Tenn. bawling
forage.
May 5,1864 - Fine day. Have a hair cut. Start on March.
Go five miles Camp in corn field. White of A Cos. left behind.
May 6th - On march. Came to Waynesborough. 7th -
March, warm day.
Month on force - March to Pulaski’s pass through
Lawrenceburg.
May 9th - On march from Pulaski - on picket at night
(Athens)
May 10th - Start from Prospect at 10 a.m. March to
Athens, Ala. Very heavy rain, and lay under the house all
night. Very cold.
May 11th - Cold wet day. Stay at Athens.
May 21st & 13th - In camp at Athens, Ala. One year from
our stay at Raymond, Miss. Drilling every morning.
May 14th - Drilling and detained as a commissary
guard.
May 15th - Sabbath Day. On duty at Post.
May 16th - On duty in town. One year from the Battle of
Champion Hills.
May 17th - On duty in town. One year from the day of the
fight at Black River Bridge.
May 18th - A big scare at Decuter - 35 men of the sth
loway captured.
May 19th - Leave our quarters at Athens, Ala. March 19
miles toward Huntsville. A fine country and full of fruit.
May 20 - March 6 miles. Arrive at Huntsville. Go into
camp. Get our mail. The first received since leaving home.
Received 2 letters from Anna W. and one from Harvey.
21st - Lay in camp.
May 22 - Write Cousin Angie a letter. The Sabbath. One
yr. from the assault on Vicksburg.
May 25,1864 - Leave Huntsville, Ala. for Rome. March
15 miles.
May 26th - March to Decatur. Cool day. Pass through
Mooresville.
May 27th - Cross the Tenn. River at Decatur. March
about 9 miles. Wade a bayou.
May 28th - on March. March 9 miles. Camp for the
night.
May 29th - March 16 miles and very warm.
May 30th - March to Warrenton. May 31st. Leave
Warrenton. March 10 miles. Camp in the woods. Have a talk
with B. Franklin about Clinton.
June Ist, 1864 - March 18 miles - June 2nd. Lay in camp.
June 3rd, 1864 - March 18 miles. Wet and rainy. Pass
over Lookout Mountain.
June 4,1864 - March 16 miles. On pickett. Cross the Ga.
& Ala. line.
June sth - March 15 miles to Rome. Was arrested.
Camp on Coosa River.
June 6th - Pass through Rome, and march to Kingston,
distance 15 miles
June 7th - March 14 miles. Camp on the Coosa River.
See some of the 66th OVI. Hear of the death of George
Milledge.
June Bth - March toward the front. See Will Rutan, and
others of the 66th OVI. Go home to be discharged.
June 9, 1864. Lay in camp near Aguay. See Joseph
Shisher, John Hosington, and many other old friends, George
(N or R) Geo. DeLund.
June 10th - Move to the front, have a skirmish. Lay on
ground at night.
June 11th - Advance a little - June 12. Skirmish. Build
earthworks.
June 13th - Get a mail from home, write to Mike (?).
Hear from Kit. Go on skirmish at night.
June 14th - A fine day. Wash. Sleep and visit. See
George Russell.
June 15th - Write two letters. One to Kit, one to Anne
Williams.
June 16th - Adavnce out line. Dig pits on picket.
June 17th - Move up - Dig a line of works.
June 18th - Rain all day. Lay in camp. Very muddy and
wet.
June 19th - Make an advance. Captor lost. Mountain
great. Rebel works. Slept on the mountain.
June 20th - Lay in a camp. Heavy firing at night. Write
to Angie & Huttie
June 21st - On picket. Advance. June 22 - Dig at night.
June 23rd - Go on a reconnaissance in force. Some men
THE JACKSON PROGRESS-ARCUS, JACKSON, GEORGIA
Diary of a Federal Soldier
From History of Butts Cos. Compiled by Jackson B.&P.W. Club
hurt.
June 24th - On fatigue. Hungry.
June 25th - Lay in camp. Write two, one to Nell (Nett?)
one to C.. Go on pickett at night.
June 26th - Get letters. Sleep. Take a wash. Move at
night. Send a dispatch to the Rebs by a dog in the morning
with a canteen to his tail.
June 27th - Drive on the Rebs. Pickets and return to
camp.
June 28th - Lay in Camp. June 29th - On fatigue. Breast
works.
June 30th - Lay in camp as fine shower and shave Webb,
and draw rations.
July Ist, 1864 - On picket duty near Brushy Ridge.
July 2nd - Lay in camp. Move at night. March all night.
July 4th - (Note says “Read this please) Up at four in
the morning. A fine day. No celebration, heavy firing in the
evening. Think of three years past, of many friends. They are
lost now forever. Think of Jennie, of home, of all that is dead
to one in life. Move at evening a mile and a half. Drums of
Army men in marshall array, of Battle Strife, dead and
wounded. Corpses laying on the ground (martial) then of
friends, Anne, and all of the list of dear sisters, of my soldier
brother - hope to see them all again.
July sth - Up at 4 a.m. Move at 10. March to counter
march, finally go to river. Skirmish with the enemy.
Advance up the river. Heavy artillery duel. Hard days duty.
July 6th - Up at 4 in the morning. Warm day. Wash,
make shade. Sgt. whipp mortally wounded on the skirmish
lines. Fine night.
July 7th - The enemy shells out camp. Elias Hathaway
severely wounded in the face. We move camp. Fortify on
picket at night.
July Bth - Lay in camp in the morning. Wash in the
afternoon.
July 9th - Draw rations. Shaved. See Bige Blake. Lay in
camp.
July 10th - Lay in camp. Transferred to 4th Div. 19th
Army Corp.
July 11th - Move to 4th Division. See some of the 66th
OVI
July 12th - On skirmish line on the Chulaloocha River.
July 13th - On pickett on Chulaloocha River. Very
warm. Hear the Pirate Alabama is sunk.
July 14th - Lay in camp. Fine day. Shave.
July 15th - Go to see some friends the 113th, 121st, and
2nd Ohio. Have a chat with Joseph Swisher, Frank, John A.,
and many others.
July 16 - Start on march at daylight. Have no rations.
All are in a bad humor. Finally have to get some grub. Get
some berries. Resume the march to Marietta. Arrive at 12 at
night.
July 17th, 1864 - Up at 4 in the morning. Get some
berries. Start on the march. Go through Marietta - have a
very hard time. Pass through Roswell, Georgia, and across
the Chattachoochee River, and march 4 miles to camp at 11 at
night.
July 18th - Resume the march at sunrise. Go 4 miles.
Camp, go for blackberries. Have a feast.
July 19th - March 6 miles in the evening. Guard the
train. Camp at 12 at night. Draw rations.
July 20th - March at 2 a.m. in the morning. Pass
through Decatur at noon. Go to the front. Have a heavy
skirmish, very warm. Forty at night.
July 2lst - Lt. Wiley and Calvin P. Robinson wounded.
Lt. Hamilton and Huffman sunstroke. Work all night a
terrible change. Capt. Sinclair, Simwell (?), Blake, and
Michael Sullivan wounded. Very warm loss of men, relieved
on to the left. Lay quiet all night.
July 22 - Advance breastworks in the morning.
Attacked at one pm. A terrible fight. Rebs advance in mass. A
terrible fight. James Peters. William Mitchell killed
(enmasse) and left in the enemies hand. John Philbom,
Richard Columbus, Dave McCloud wounded. Albert
Woodsworth wounded. Thomas McDowell, Edward McMulli
taken prisoners.
July 23rd - Build works, some skirmishing with the
enemy. Build works. Flag of truce to bury the dead. The Rebs
acknowledge being badly whipped. Work at night.
July 24th - Build works. Work hard all day. Get a large
mail at evening. Good letters from home.
July 25th - Up at half-past three. Drew rations. Go to
19th Wisconsin write. Go on pickett at night.
July 26 - On pickett. Advance on the enemy. Have a
small skirmish. Smell dead. Rebs relieved.
July 27th - Evacauate the line S.E. of Atlanta. March
around to the right. Go into camp late.
July 28th - Advance, took time to build works. Have a
hard fight. The Rebs charge. Repulse with heavy loss. Our
loss light.
July 29th - Return to our old Division. Lay awaiting
orders.
July 30th - Go to the front. Build works. Washrounds
the p.m. All quiet.
July 31st - Sunday, very warm. See Frank McAdams.
August Ist, AD 1864 - Build anew set of works. Shell
some Rebs. Rains.
Aug. 2 - Work on fort. Move to anew work. In front.
Aug. 3- Fine day. Draw some clothes. Get shoes and
pants. Go on picket at night to advance the line.
Aug. 4 - Come in front. Picket. Get Breakfast. Drew
whiskey. Some of the boys tight. Alarm at night. Aug. 5. Cut
Bred (?).
Aug 6. - Work all day. Have a stampede at night. Heavy
rain.
Aug 7 - Repair works. Aug. 8 play sick. Write to Clark
and Maggie. Rain.
Aug. 9 - Work on fortification. Sick. Take Oil. Draw
rations. Close to enemy. They open battery.
Aug. 10 - Complete works and rest.
Aug 11,1864 - The enemy shell our camp. Move at night.
Aug. 12 - Set up camp. Take a wash etc. Draw rations.
Write to Mollie McDowell. Send Tom’s furlough. Aug. 13,
Work on breast works.
Aug. 14 - Work some and relieved. Drink whiskey.
Sabbath Day - rest.
Aug. 15 - Take a shave. Drop mustaches, etc. Draw
rations. Very warm.
Aug. 16 - Warm day. Go on picket at night. Hear rebels
band, etc.
Aug. 17 - On pickett. Dangerous place in front. A shell
come into out pit. Throw dirt over the nonvets. The last
pickett duty with Johnny Marriott and James Mitchell.
Relieved at night.
Aug. 18 - Warm. Skirmish in the morning. Draw rations.
Lay out at night. Put up head logs on ditches. Danson from Cos.
E killed by shell.
Aug. 19 - Three years today since the company was
sworn into the service. The non vets in a stew. Move to works.
Get shot in back.
Aug. 20 - On the front line. J. P. McDowell returns to Cos
B from Hospital Non Vets relieved from up front to rear. John
Shirk killed.
Aug. 21 - On month from the charge on Bald Hill. Rainy
day. One Cos wounded.
Aug. 22 - Joseph Sosebee comes and make a call
Aug. 23 - All quite at our Company. Get a letter from
Clut. Write to Clut.
Aug. 25 - The Non Vets start home. All quiet in front.
Aug. 26 - Lay in camp. Draw rations. Move at night.
March all night.
Aug. 27 - On the march. Go about 5 miles. Forage get
corn and berries.
. Aug. 28 - March behind train. Very hard march. Camp
and picket at night.
Aug. 29 - Tear up railroad and lay in camp. The Chicago
Convention.
Aug. 30 - March all day. Sharp skirmish in front.
Aug. 32 - Advance toward railroad. Have a sharp fight.
400 prisoners.
Sept the first AD 1864. Work some on breastworks. Go
toward railroad. See the 14th Corps. Go back and go to the
right.
Sept. 2 - Advance the skirmish line. Find Reds gone.
Take railroad. March six miles toward Lovejoy Station.
Sept. 3. Rains in the morning. Close upon the enemy.
Weak on forage. Stephen Kingkade killed in the night by a
stray bullet. Buried in the morning.
Sept. 4 - Lay in camp. Forage green corn.
Sept. 5 - Very hard rain. Evacuate at night. Arrive at
Jonesborough 6 am. Move up on the 6th. Lay in camp near
Flint Creek.
Sept. 7, 1864 - March 7 miles toward East Point Camp.
Sept. 8 - March on to Camp Creek - Camp for the night.
Sept. 9 - Move into near the railroad. Sept. 10 begin to
build breastwork.
Sept. 10 -and clean camp 11. Lay in camp and fortify.
Get a big mail.
Sept. 12 - Fine day. Clear of parade ground.
Sept. 13 - Clean camp. Some of the boys time out today.
Served three years.
Sept. 14 - Clean up for Inspection. Hard work.
Sept. 15 - Inspection. Some of the 66th over to see us.
Sept. 16 - All is quite quiet in camp.
Sept. 17 - Thomas Orr comes back to Regt. (under
guard) We draw clothes.
Sept. 18 - On pickett. Raindy day.
Sept. 22 - Our prisoners return from Andersonville.
They look bad. Was at the 110th OVI.
Sept. 25 - Sabbath. Three men return from the hospital.
Go to church. Fine day. Write to Mollie.
Sept. 27 - Draw rations. Do nothing until the last and
then on pickett.
Oct. 1,1864 AD - Come off from pickett. Start on march
in the evening. Go five miles.
Oct. 2 - March on to Fairbum. Drive in the Rebs. Pick
and return 10 miles on way back to camp. A heavy rain at
night.
Oct. 3- Arrive at camp. Wash. Get marching order.
Turn over camp equipage.
Oct. 4 - Leave Atlanta. March toward Marietta. On
pickett at night.
Oct. 5 - Resume the march. Go five miles. Stop. Go in
for the camp for the night.
Oct. 6 - Raining in the morning. Draw rations. Sad
thought of home and the loved ones left in my beautiful
Northland.
Oct. 7 - Go on march to Powder Springs, See a curly
haired girl.
Oct. 8 - Return to our camp South of Marietta. Cool
days. Forage honey.
Oct. 9 - March at 6 am pass through Marietta and up to
Big Shanty. Camp at Big Shanty.
Oct. 10 - Work on the railroad. Go foraging.
Oct. 11 - March at one am. Go to Acworth. Hold election
on the road. Go to Etowah River. Pass Altoona Fork.
Oct. 12 - March at 6:30 am. Pass thru Kingston within
miles of Rome. March 23 miles.
Oct. 13 - Start for Reseca at sunset. Go to Adairsville.
Get on back of train at one at night. Arrive at Reseca at
sunrise.
Oct. 14, 1864. - Have a very sorehead day at Reseca.
Steal grub.
Oct. 15 - Leave Reseca. Go to Snake Creek Gap. Have a
sharp skirmish. Our loss 25 killed - 31 wounded.
Oct. 16 - March 8 miles to Walkers Gap. Forage
potatoes.
Oct. 17 - Lay in camp. Move 4 miles at night.
Oct 18 - March thru LaFayette. Go to a branch of the
Coosa River.
Oct. 19 - March thru Summersville. Go 14 miles. On the
move early am.
Oct. 21 - March to Gaylesville (Tenn) Camp.
Oct. 22 - Lay over at Gaylesville. Forage. Have plenty
to eat.
Oct. 23 - Have inspection. Write, cook and eat.
Oct. 24 - On pickett. Write to N. fine day Oct. 25. Same.
Oct. 26 - Lay in camp near Gaylesville.
Oct. 27 - On camp duty. See Joshua Swisher. Have a fine
chat. Hear Jane is married. Bully for her.
Oct. 28 - Come off duty. Have a general review by Gen.
Mower.
Oct. 29 - Break up camp at Gaylesville. March at 2:30
o’clock. Go 12 miles.
Oct. 31 - Move at 6 a.m. Go to Cave Springs. Put on
guard at a house with three young ladies. Have a gay time.
Nov. 1. 1864 - On guard at Cave Springs. Girls play on
the piano.
Nov. 2 - March to Cedartown from Cave Springs. 3rd
march to VanWert 12 miles.
Nov. 4 - March from VanWert to Dallas -then toward
Marietta 12 miles.
Nov. 6 - 5 miles beyond.
Nov. 7 - March up near Marietta and camp.
Nov. 8 - Hold an election. Some of the boys come up. 34
Democratic voters. 223 Union votes in Reg
Nov. 9 - Write to Milie. Draw rations. Get paid late at
night. Raining.
Nov. 10 - Lay in camp. Send money home. $l5O to have
ißourborn) Go to Marietta. To guard at night.
Nov. 11 - On guard in city. Fire at night. See refugees.
12th. Marietta.
Nov. 13 - Leave Marietta. March toward Atlanta. Cross
Chattachoochee River.
Nov. 14 -March through Atlanta. See destruction of
the Kimball Hotel.
Nov. 15 - Leave the City of Atlanta.
Nov. 16, 1865 - March 16 miles into Georgia. See a fine
country.
THURSDAY, JULY 1, 1976
Nov. 17,1864 - March 20 miles into Georgia. Go into a
fine camp.
Nov. 18 - On the march. Cross the River at 12 o’clock at
night. Called the Ocmulgee. On pickett, raining
Nov. 19 - March at 9 a.m. Go through MonticeUo,
counteceipt (county seat) of Jasper County, Ga.
Nov. 20 - March 18 miles. Wet and rainy. Camp late.
Nov. 21 - Go foraging, capture 15 mules, 4 horse. Lay out
from camp at night.
Nov. 22 - Go to camp with a load of forage at Gordon
Division. Go on march 8 miles camp. Get in with forage, and
mules. Eat honey & potatoes.
Nov. 23 - March at sunrise, go thru Erwinsville. Go like
the Devil. Go through Station No. 15, and on to the Oconee
River. Have skirmish.
Nov. 24 - Lay in Camp. Go on picket at night
Nov. 25 - March back to No. 15 around to (Kaidnedy)
River, tear up R. R.
Nov. 26 - Cross the Oconee River. Camp within 2 miles.
Nov. 27 - Start late camp. Early march 8 miles.
Nov. 28 - March behind the train. Indian summer -
country poor.
Nov. 29 - March at daylight. See Ge. Sherman. Go. 16
miles. On picket. Have big sweet potato
Nov. 30 - Come off from picket. March 8 miles. Camp in
a swamp.
Dec. Ist, 1864 - Move at 8 o’clock. Cross the Ogeechee
River. March 8 miles. Tear up railroad.
Dec. 2 - March to Millen. Cross the R.R. Bridge.
Dec. 3- Leave Millen. Guard supply train. March 9
miles.
Dec. 4 - Tear up R R and destroy negro pens at No. 7
Sationa and march 15 mi.
Dec. 5 - March miles Cross the Little Ogeechee
River and camp.
Dec. 6. - Lay over in camp. Forage asm in the woods.
Dec. 7 - March 14 miles and camp 31 miles from
Savannah - Rainy day.
Dec. 8-March at 8:30, pass No. 2% Station. On pickett
at night.
Dec. 9 - March 12 miles. Have a skirmish. Camp at
Station No. 1.
Dec. 10 - Drive the enemy into their works. Near
Savannah. Our skirmish. Fine day. The Drum Major of the
16th lowa killed by a solid shot.
Dec. 11-up atsa.m. Move out lock and Jacquays. Quite
a change. Great reports by the 14th Corps. Go to the rear. Cold
night.
Dec. 12, 1864 - Move out to the road to go with train.
Don't go past our old camp. Go on picket. Relieved and run
the blockade at night. Cross a pond and rice field.
Dec. 13 - Lay in camp. Hard up for grub. Corn in the ear
issued by Ouartermaster Wiley.
Dec. 14 - Lay in camp. Dec. 15 - Kill beef. Go on picket.
Dec. 16 -Move down to the Ogeechee River. Get mail at
night.
Dec. 17 - Get more mail. Rec’d letter from Anna W.
Lose pocket book or money. Mend pants. Dec. 18 -On duty on
.the dock.
Dec. 19 - On Commissary guard to load trains. Dec. 20 -
Lay in camp.
Dec. 21 - On duty at Kings Bridge. 22 - Very cold day -
duty at Landing.
Dec. 23 - Still remains cold.
Dec. 24 - March to Savannah, go thru the city. Camp two
miles out.
Dec. 25 - Christmas near Savannah. Cool and cloudy.
Lay in camp ordered to clean up for review.
Dec. 26. 1864 - Lay in camp - have nothing to eat.
Dec. 27 - Get a pass. Go to Savannah. Walk around
town. See Pulaski monument, the parks and fountain. The
folks generally. Go the 66th take dinner, buy com bread,
clever.
Dec. 28 - Rains in the morning. Go to town for Review. It
plays out. Return to camp and move on to St. Augustine
creek.
Dec. 29 - Cold and clear. Go to the City. Reviewed by
Gen. Sherman & Staff
Dec. 30 - Lay in camp - Scarce of grub. 31st cold and
rainy. Muster and draw whiskey.
New Year's Day - 1865 - Laying in camp. Have fresh
oysters for dinner.
Jan. 4 - Go to Town. Draw rations & clothing. Get a
letter from Perry.
Jan. 5 - Lay in camp. Have marching orders.
Jan. 6 - Prepare to move - rainy in the morning. We
move. Get aboard the Metagorda. Run down to Warsau
Sound Anchored for the night. Cold and rough.
Jan. 7 - Pull up anchor at daylight. Run out on the
Atlantic. Many get sick (sea) Stop at Hilton Head. Then run to
Beaufort. Go ashore and camp. A pretty place even tho cold
Wod scarce.
Jan. 8 - Sunday drew rations. Get some onions and
potatoes. Preaching by chaplin.
Jan. ll - Go on picket. Sign for clothing. Have a good
time. Sell Joseph Reed a pen.
He made his way on up thru Sand N Carolina, going all
the time toward Ohio, reaching Cincinnati, July 22,1865. Took
the cars to Columbus, arriving just before sunset.
Turning over their airs, it being Sunday (July 23rd)
signed the muster-out rolls.
Other names in his diary:
B. P. Bynes, George Cook, J. P. McDonelson, Jack
Tullington, Liuern Hord, Charles McMullen, Robert Reed,
Dewitt Shepard. M. Hopkins. Ed McMullin, Elias Hathaway,
William Clancy, Sumner Galoway, John Bly, John Tilson,
Nate A. Glendenning, J. Hamilton, Wm. Snodgrass,
John Tillio (Tullis?), M. E. Sullivan, Burt Flage?, Leonard
Richey, George Keyes, James Mitchell, James Peters, L.
Wadsworth, Alfred Ralph (Rolph?), Sam Blake, Thomas
McDowell, Dave McCloud, Carper Groves, Charles Taylor,
Johannes Shirk, Will Rosecrans, J. B. Robinson,
Reid, Varnun Jakways, Wm. Goodyear, Adam Ricfiey,
Charles Gy (maybe Bly).
Address of Ladies:
Mrs. Lucy Greger - Louisville, Ky.
Miss Kate Coonrod - Lousiville, Ky.
Miss Jennie Mobley - Cave Springs, Ga.