Civil War]]>
The 97th New York Infantry (also known as the Conkling Rifles) was organized in 1861 with men recruited from Herkimer, Lewis and Oneida counties. It was mustered into U. S. service on February 18, 1862, under command of Colonel Charles Wheelock. The regiment saw its first action at Cedar Mountain on August 9. Among the battles in which it fought were Second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, The Wilderness, Petersburg, and Appomattox Courthouse. The 97th New York was mustered out of service on July 18, 1865 near Washington, D.C.]]> Smith, Merritt Hager]]> See the Finding Aid for the Merritt Hager Smith Diary]]> 1863-01-01/1863-12-31]]> Permission to publish material from the Merritt Hager Smith Diary must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.]]> Diaries]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> Civil War]]> United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865]]> The 54th Pennsylvania Infantry was organized in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in August and September, 1861, having recruited largely in Somerset and surrounding counties of southwestern Pennsylvania. In February 1862, the regiment was ordered to Washington, D. C., then to Harpers Ferry, (West) Virginia, from which the individual companies were dispatched to guard strategic points along a 60-mile section of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. Company A guarded the vicinity of South Branch Bridge.
As part of the Union Army's Department of West Virginia, the regiment participated in the Shenandoah Campaign of 1864, engaging the Confederates in several battles, including those at New Market, Piedmont and Lynchburg. In December 1864, the 54th was assigned to the Army of the James and transferred to Petersburg, Virginia. There, it participated in the siege against the city, the pursuit of Lee's forces, and the Appomattox campaign. The regiment was mustered out of service on July 15, 1865.]]> Cohn, Jacob]]> See the Finding Aid for the Jacob Cohn Diary]]> 1864-04-14/1864-06-18]]> Permission to publish material from the Jacob Cohn Diary must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.]]> Diaries]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> Civil War]]>
In July, the regiment began the trip to Charleston, South Carolina. Bushee reports on the shelling at Fort Sumter from his posts around Fort Wagner, Black Island, and Charleston in August. Although he seems he often notes being ordered to and going to the front, he does not detail his actions there. By September, Bushee's increasing illness begins to dominate his diary. The last eight weeks of entries, ending abruptly on November 18 th, consists of little more than "feel unwell." Bushee died three weeks later.

The latter pages of the diary contain detailed cash accounts of Bushee's purchases, as well as a list of dead and wounded from the company, and dates he served on guard and picket duty. ]]> Bushee, Charles H.]]> See the Finding Aid for the Charles H. Bushee Diary]]> 1863]]> Permission to publish material from the [collection name] must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.]]> ]]> English]]> Diaries]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> Civil War]]> Virginia--History]]> Slavery--United States]]> African American history]]>
According to his obituary, he learned to read and write in secret. Based on his diary, he was the body servant of A[lexander]. P. Grice, likely the son of his owner, who served with Company A, Cohoon's Battalion, Virginia Infantry, at least during a part of 1862. In 1866, after being freed, Wilson enlisted and went to Europe with the U.S. Navy. When he returned home, he lived in the house he inherited from his mother. Wilson worked at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, as a laborer, and as a bailiff for the Federal Court at Norfolk. In his later years, from 1924 until his death in 1929, he wrote a column called "Colored Notes" for The Portsmouth Star. The column included social news, Wilson's political views, and issues of race relations--all themes that occur throughout his diaries. Wilson was active in the Emmanuel AME Church in Portsmouth, where he taught Sunday school. In June of 1929, Wilson was hit by a car. He died at his son's home, two months later, on August 25, 1929.

Entries for the 1913 diary were kept in a Wanamaker's Diary (produced by the department store chain) actually designed for 1911. As a result, Wilson has hand-corrected the days of the week throughout to reflect 1913. The diary includes advertisements, as well as a history of the Wanamaker stores.

In addition to the entries recorded (two to a page), throughout the year, Wilson attached additional pages to continue writing. Many of these consists of reminiscences of his life in previous years on topics from the Civil War, his service in the U. S. Navy, segregation and race issues in Portsmouth and Norfolk, and local news. He also writes of daily events: his family's health, church events, the weather, and his frequent concerns about money. ]]> available online. ]]> Wilson, Jeffrey Thomas, 1843-1929]]> See the Finding Aid for Jeffrey T. Wilson Diaries]]> 1913]]> Permission to publish material from the Jeffrey Thomas Wilson Diary must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.]]> ]]> English]]> Diaries]]> Memoirs]]> ]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> Civil War]]> Faculty]]> Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College]]>
The small volume of 68 pages, bearing on its spine the embossment "cash book," was retained for its intended use by Captain Minor, its original owner, to carefully record personal expenditures and savings. Minor's records commence with November 6, 1860 and end on May 4, 1864. In recording these financial transactions, Minor provides details regarding his daily whereabouts and activities. He records meal and travel purchases, as well as amounts paid to individual servants, expenses for personal and household items, services, and military gear. Also recorded within the book are Minor's bank transactions for 1861-1862, a list of silver wedding gifts received by Fanny Cazenove Minor, and a list of stocks and bonds held by Minor.

The cash book was among materials seized by Federal troops in the act of destroying the rail line and depot at Hewletts Station, Virginia on May 25, 1864, and came into the possession of Private Harmon, who used it as a diary. (As the first diary entry predates the volume's capture by three weeks, we may surmise that the early entries were made retrospectively or that they were copied from another book.) Harmon's first entry, for May 2, finds his regiment having just crossed the Hazel River and preparing to cross the Rapidan. Soon, Harmon describes fearful, endless shelling by "cast iron hummingbirds" during the Battle of the Wilderness. Harmon briefly mentions African American troops, Confederate prisoners of war, and camp rumors. As the regiment marches toward Spotsylvania Court House, Harmon mentions a fire in which many wounded soldiers were killed. He describes heavy fighting and losses at Spotsylvania and at one point questions the actions of the Brigade commander. As his regiment endures battles at North Anna and Cold Harbor, Harmon describes the morale of his comrades ("very much broken up they are tired heartsick & discouraged") and himself ("sick, tired & worn out too night this is our 9th day of slaughter"). Many of the entries center on his brigade's movements and preparations for battles that often fail to materialize. Harmon's diary entries end with June 3, 1864. Following the June 3 entry is a gap, indicating the removal of several pages, and a page of wartime accounts held by Harmon and I. F. Goodwin.

The volume also contains two botanical samples, one of which appears to be a collection of four-leaved clovers, tipped into the first two pages.
]]> Minor, Charles L. C. (Charles Landon Carter), 1835-1903]]> Harmon, Edward P.]]> See the Finding Aid for the Charles L. C. Minor Cash Book and Edward P. Harmon Civil War Diary]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> 1860/1864]]> Permission to publish material from the Charles L. C. Minor Cash Book and Edward P. Harmon Civil War Diary must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.]]> Minor, Charles L. C. The Real Lincoln: from the testimony of his contemporaries. 2nd ed., rev. and enl. (Richmond, Va.: E. Waddey Co., 1904). E457 M66 1904 Civil War Spec

Minor, Charles L. C. "The old system of slavery, its compensations and contrasts to the present labor conditions." Southern Historical Society Papers 30(1902): 125-129. E483.7 S76 v. 30 Civil War Spec

Minor Family Papers, 1787-1906, Robert Alonzo Brock Collection, Henry E. Huntington Library, San Marino, California. (microfilm copy held by Library of Virginia)
]]> English]]> Diaries]]> ]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]>