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PDF file, Cyrus Thomas Diary, 1862
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| Page Title | PDF file, Cyrus Thomas Diary, 1862 |
| Title | [Cyrus Thomas Diary, 1862, United States Civil War] |
| Author | Thomas, Cyrus, b. ca. 1832 |
| Date Original | 1862 |
| Description | Handwritten Civil War diary, soft cover, pocket sized, scanned and transcribed for use in United States Civil War Collection. |
| Location | Kentucky
Tennessee
United States
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| Full Text | The dates in bold type have been added for clarity. Turquoise text indicates insertion in original diary. Grey text indicates deletion in original diary. Blue text indicates a person in original diary. Green text indicates a place in original diary. Orange text indicates a battle in original diary. Maroon text indicates a military unit in original diary. 1862 Thomas, Cyrus, b. ca. 1832 [ Front cover is blank] [ page 1] A- 563[ 1] 1.00 1.25 1.25.50 1.00 2.00 7.00 [ 2] [ page 2] Journal commencing with February 14, 1862 Feb. 14th 1862 Feb. 13th in the evening we were ordered to be ready for marching the next morning Marched 14 miles & camped beside the R. R. near the Upton Station Snow 2 inches deep. Weather tolerably cold. February 15, 1862 Feb. 15 Waited for further orders & for the teams to come up At M.[ 3] recd. orders to be ready to march at 2 oclock P. M. Marched 56 miles & camped in an open field Slept on brush February 16, 1862 Feb. 16th Were aroused at 2 oclock & ordered to be ready to march at 4 oclock Made 11 1/ 2 miles & camped near Rowlet Station one mile south of Green River pitched tents & passed the night very comfortably February 17, 1862 " 17th A cold rain commenced falling early in the morning Were called into ramks [ sic, ranks] at 7 & stood in the rain till 8 oclock when we [ page 3] were ordered to march The rain continued to fall till 9 oclock The pike[ 4] was covered with thin mud The boys manifested an unusual lively spirit to which they gave vent by singing shon songs indicative of the pleasure they felt at they felt at on leaving their old stamping ground & moving farther into rebeldom where an oppor-tunity would be offered to test the truthfulness of the pompous assertion of southern braggarts - That three one south-erners were was equal to 3 northern mudsills[ 5] Made 18 miles 5 miles of which was pike & 2 or 3 by R. R. & the balance of the way we trudged through as muddy roads as ever was seen on clayey pikes Many dropped out by the way [ page 4] Feb. I never before saw as tired a set of fellows camped at Bell's Station 22 1/ 2 miles from Bowling Green February 18, 1862 [ 6] 18th " 19th " 20th " 21st " 22nd " 23d Remained in Camp Fry till the 23d Rained most of the time Nothing of importance transpired In the eve. recd. orders for marching in the morning Began the march at 8 oclock March 20 miles & camped 2 1/ 2 miles from B. Green Traveled on stone pike all day boys had very sore feet Camped in the woods beside the road Passed through some delight ful country On the right 2 or 3 miles distant a range of hills ran 15 or 20 miles thence stretching southward several miles was a beautiful tract of country some 5 miles in length remained in [ page 5] this camp till the eve. of the 26th Nothing of interest transpired Visited the batteries the 25th Found them much more formidable than I had supposed them to be February 26, 1862 Feb 26th Marched to at 5 P. M. to the river & after waiting 2 hours crossed on boats stationed in the river for that purpose Camped for the night on the south bank of Barren River February 27, 1862 " 27th Marched at 8 oclock A. M. & made 22 miles Stone pike all the way Never was so tired before Camped near the village of Franklin about 1500 inhabitants Passed through some delight ful country country Large plantations & splendid mansions could be seen [ page 6] Feb. from the road Capt. 1st Lieut. & 3 of the Sergts. occupied a deser-ted house in the village in which we passed the night very comfortably February 28, 1862 " 28th Marched at 7 oclock & made 23 1/ 2 miles Camped at Sulphur Springs Crossed the Tenn. Line at 10 oclock when 3 hearty cheers [ were] given for old Tenn Boys in high glee This evening our 2 days rations run out & we drew flower [ sic, flour] & salt beef & it was rather diverting as well as hard to see the various methods resorted to to convert them into something eatable After converting it with into dough some wrapped it around sticks & then baked it others smeared it over chips or boards others made it into balls & then dropped them into boiling water or beef broth others made a thin soup broth of it [ page 7] March 01, 1862 March 1st 1862 Marched 13 miles & halted at the junc-tion to get a supply of provis-ions Got a full supply Here we saw the Cumberland R. for the first time March 02, 1862 March 2d Marched 8 1/ 2 miles filed left marched one miles & halted in the grove where we expected to camp for the night but at M. recd. orders to be ready to march at 2 oclock Marched to the river & after waiting 2 hours marched aboard the boat [ 7] where we Remained on aboard the boat[ 8] about 2 hours without any sherter [ sic, shelter] the rain pouring in torrents all the time At dark we marched ashore & after passing marching through the city advanced 1 1/ 2 miles into the country in the direction of the fare- ground where we were told we would camp for the night Were ordered to halt about [ page 8] face & countermarched back to the city took a new pike which we followed 4 miles & halted in an open field Our equipments were soon thrown aside & the rails traveled double- quick[ 9] In less than 20 minutes bright files [ sic, fires] were blaz-ing along the line The cold rain continued to fall This was the coldest rain most dreary night we had yet experienced March 03, 1862 " 3d Part of the a. m. was spent in getting straw & hay for bedding at M. recd. orders to be ready to march at 2 P. M. Marched 1 mile to our present camping ground which for is as healthy, convenient & pleasant as could be desired Is on a gentle elevation facing the south Country surroun-ding the encampment deli- " 4th ghtful & fertile in the extreme March 06, 1862 " 6th Snow fell to the depth of 3/ 4 of an inch [ page 9] March 1862 March 09, 1862 " 9th Our pickets were driven in Union loss 1 corporal, killed As usual in camp nothing of interest transpired Comm-enced regular diary at on March 15, 1862 " 15th Rained nearly all day today & yesterday Did not drill Nothing was done Two boxes of overcoats were expressed by C. E. to Fostoria March 16, 1862 " 16th A misting rain continued to fall till 9 oclock a. m. Marched at 8 oclock & made 14 miles Passed through some delightful country It is Sun. & the slaves flocked to the roadside by scores & appeared to be very well pleased with the visit We saw a great many of the aristocracy all of whom were evidently secesh[ 10] Camped near Franklin a village of 15000 inhabitants [ page 10] March March 17, 1862 " 17th Morning delightful air cool & bracing Marched at 9. & made 16 miles Nothing of particular interest transpired on the march camped within 1 1/ 2 miles of Little Duck river March 18, 1862 " 18th Remained in camp Weather pleasant March 19, 1862 " 19th rained very hard during latter part of night & early in the morn-ing nothing of particular interest transpired during the day March 20, 1862 20th Marched at 9 oclock & reached Rutherford creek at 10 oclock where we waited sometime expecting to cross dry shod when growing impati-ent forded in Current very rapid with a depth of 3 feet 15th O.[ m1] followed Several muskets were lost None of the men suffered very severely Marched 6 miles [ page 11] March 21, 1862 March 21st Weather cool & cloudy a little snow fell in the morning [ No Journal entries from March 22 until Sept. 3, 1862][ 11] [ page 12] September 03, 1862 Sept 3 Marched at 9 A. M. & made 13 miles Camped near Beach grove September 04, 1862 " 4. Left Camp at 6 A. M. Marched 16 M.[ miles] & camped near Murfreesboro M is 31 m. from Nashville September 05, 1862 " 5. Remained in camp 3 miles from Murfreesboro September 06, 1862 " 6. March at 9 A. M. 4 miles north of M. about faced & marched 9 miles 2 m. marched September 07, 1862 " 7. 49 O. [ Ohio][ m2] & 34 Ill. [ Illinois][ m3] acted as wagon guards rode all the way Train halted at 4- mile- creek September 08, 1862 " 8. Quite an excitement in camp September 09, 1862 " 9. Went on picket September 10, 1862 " 10. Were ordered to be ready to march on 15 minutes notice Marched at sunset Passed through [ illegible] to after night September 11, 1862 " 11. Halted at 3 A. M. after marching 13 miles [ Page 13] September 12, 1862 Sept 12th Left Tyree Springs at 6 A. M. Halted in the yard fronting the Hotel till 9 A. M. when we marched slowly forward Marched 15 miles & bivwacked[ 12] for the night in an open field Halted at 10 Marched as rear guard for 2 days September 13, 1862 " 13. Left camp at Mitchelsville at at 5 A. M. Passed the state line at 6 A. M. 7 miles from Franklin Ky. Camped at Sinking Springs 7 from F. Marced 15 miles September 14, 1862 " 14. Marched at 2 A. M. Marched 12 miles before day dawn Halted & remained over night 3 miles from Bowling green September 15, 1862 " 15. Marched at 7 A. M. Passed through B. & camped 1 mile from town in an open field Made 4 miles September 16, 1862 " 16. No marching orders till near 5 A. M. at 5 forded Barren river September 17, 1862 " 17. Forded the river at 5 A. M. Marched 15 miles & halted at Dripping Springs Night very disagreeable Rained all night [ page 14] September 18, 1862 Sept. 18. Ordered to prepare 2 days rations & one P. M. Eacked his own bread after the dough was kneeded Marched 11 miles & bivwacked in an open field September 19, 1862 " 19. Remained in camp all day Paroled prisoners passing all day 3 miles north of Bells station Rebs reported in strong force at Green river September 20, 1862 " 20. All quiet in camp Orders to march tomorrow September 21, 1862 " 21st Marched at sunset & reached Rowlet Station at sunrise Marched 15 miles September 22, 1862 " 22. Marched at 1 PM found wooden poart [ part?] of Green River bridge burned Rebs moving toward Lou isville Many rebel prisoners passed back through our lines Halted at Bacon Creek Made 11 miles September 23, 1862 " 23. Left camp at 7 AM Passed old Camp Nevin at 3 P. M. Halted & made coffee Found the old [ page 15] camping ground refenced [ illegible] & covered with a very large growth of corn - shocked - Marched 24 miles & halted one mile from Elizabethtown Commenced baking 3 days rations of bread at 11 P. M. September 24, 1862 Sept. 24. Left Elizabethtown at 5 A. M. Marched to West Point on Ohio river Making 23 miles Found the river very low September 25, 1862 " 25. Marched A. M. Country good When within 8 miles of Louisville filed left & after marching 3 miles camped near the river Were cheered by a visit from the paymaster Marched 12 miles September 26, 1862 " 26. Marched at 8 A. M. to the pike thince to Louisville [ page 16] Marched & countermarched 15 miles Camped on the bank of the Ohio directly opposite Jeffersonville September 27, 1862 Sept. 27. Remained quietly in camp all day September 28, 1862 " 28 All quiet in camp ordered to prepare for field service Making out payrolls September 29, 1862 " 29. Genl. Nelson killed by Genl. Jeff C. Davis[ 13] September 30, 1862 " 30. Still in camp Expect to leave tomorrow [ page 17] October 01, 1862 Oct. 1st 1862 Left Louisville at 8 A. M. [ 14] marched 15 miles & halted for the night near Middletown Advance guards had a small skirmish The 89th Ill. Regt. [ m4] attached to 6th brigade October 02, 1862 " 2d. Marched at 9 A. M. & made 15 miles Halted for the night at Shelbyville Passed through Boston & Simpsonville Were well received at Shelbyville October 03, 1862 " 3d. No orders to march Were confined very closely to camp October 04, 1862 " 4th. Remained in camp all day Nothing of importance transpired October 05, 1862 " 5th. Sabbath Weather delightful 49th[ m5] invited to attend divine service in the grove At 1 P. M. Regt. formed & marched through the streets of S. thence to the grove where we listened to a discourse which was evidently intended to do violence to no ones feelings [ page 18] October 06, 1862 Oct 6th Marched at 6 A. M. Passed through a rather broken country Passed through Claysville Hardins ville Bridgeport & halted late in sight of Frankfort Marched 22 miles October 07, 1862 " 7th Remained in camp till sundown when Co[ m6] s. H.[ m7] E.[ m8] & K.[ m9] went on picket At midnight recd. orders orders to march at 1 P. M. October 08, 1862 " 8th Marched at 1. Passed through south Frankfort & taking the Bardstown pike passed up the right bank of Ky. river Found Frankfort very inferior to what I expected both in appearance & population The rebs. had plundered the place Is situated in the valley of the Ky. with high hills overlooking it on all sides Passed through Rough and ready 8 miles from F. at sunrise Citizens secesh Reached Lawrence burg at 9 A. M. Stacked arms in [ page 19] the street our advance found a small force of cavalry & engaged them[ b1] in sight of us with cavalry & artillery 3 killed & 3 wounded After the skirmish[ b2] was over the 49.[ m10] occupied the left of the road Co. E[ m11] deployed as skirmishers but found no enemy Joined the Regt. again & marching back one mile filed left Mached 10 or 12 miles making about 27 miles Many fell behind & were captured October 09, 1862 Oct. 9th Ordered to march at 7 A. M. Were attacked[ b3] in the rear & the 6th Brigade[ m12] was ordered to the rear to check the enemy 49.[ m13] formed on the right. Skirmish-ing along the entire line Our battery threw several shells but with precisely what effict I have never learned The rebels withdrew their [ illegible] skirmishers Our train was [ page 20] thrown in front & we marched forward Marched 12 miles October 10, 1862 Oct 10th On the march at 5 A. M. Marched slowly over a very rough & poor country Water scarce & rather poor Passed Chaplainville Marched 12 miles & halted at 8 P. M. in an open field near Willisburg Rained most of the night October 11, 1862 " 11th Marched at 9 A. M. Roads very rough & slippery Marched 13 miles & encamped on the battlefield near Perryville Saw several woun-ded in Willisville Maxville Rebel dead on yet on the field Genl. McCook passed through our camp & the hearty cheers with which he was greeted revealed the high regard entertained for him by the 2nd Division[ m14] Evening clear & cool Arrived too late to visit the battleground[ b4] [ page 21] October 12, 1862 Oct 12th Marched into through Perryville at 7 A. M. & halted sometime in the street Talked with several of the wounded who were in fine spirits Continued on the march & camped in a beatiful grove near Harrodsburg March 10 miles The rebs had made preparation to attack us in many places along the road by tearing down the fences Passed through a small place call Nevada October 13, 1862 " 13th Left camp about 5 A. M. & marched 7 miles Halted in a grove near Danville Country very good Rebs reported within 10 miles at camp Dick Robinson[ 15] October 14, 1862 " 14th Marched at 10 A. M. Passed through Danville Rather a neat place Passed out on the Crab orchered pike[ 16] Marched at 7 9 miles & camped on Hanging branch a tributary of the Dix River Country very good [ End of entries in this diary] [ Four blank pages after this page] [ page 22] [ Previous pages appear to be ripped out] [ Large words penciled sideways] Nettie Thomas No 17 S [ partly erased] nger No 17 [ Back cover is blank] Notes [ 1] Western Michigan University Archives and Regional History Collections number [ 2] A sum of a list of numbers [ 3] Possible abbr. for midnight [ 4] Def. from OED: N. Amer. colloq. A turnpike road; generally: any highway or main road. [ 5] Def. from OED: U. S. fig. The lowest class of society; a person of this class. [ 6] Dates are listed vertically in the left margin [ 7] annotation " where we" by unknown author [ 8] this phrase was crossed out in pencil by an unknown author [ 9] Def. from OED.: adj. Military term. Applied to the quickest step next to the run [ 10] Def. from OED: n. a. A secessionist. Also secessionists collectively. [ 11] No Journal entries from March 22 until Sept. 3, 1862 [ 12] Def. from OED: bivouacked ; Mil. Of troops: To remain, esp. during the night, in the open air, without tents or covering. [ 13] This entry refers to General William " Bull" Nelson, who commanded the Army of Kentucky on the Union side. Nelson was killed by fellow Union General, Jefferson C. Davis, during an argument at a hotel in Louisville, Kentucky [ 14] Illegible text in pencil in margin [ 15] Camp Dick Robinson is located in Lancaster, Kentucky, which was established as a United States Army recruitment and training camp [ 16] could be Crab Orchard Pike Referenced Battles [ b1] Lawrenceburg, Battle of, Ky., 1862 [ b2] Dog Walk, Battle of, Ky., 1862 [ b3] Lawrenceburg, Battle of, Ky., 1862 [ b4] Perryville, Battle of, Perryville, Ky., 1862 Referenced Military Units [ m1] United States. Army. Ohio Infantry Regiment, 15th ( 1861- 1865) [ m2] United States. Army. Ohio Infantry Regiment, 49th ( 1861- 1865). Company E [ m3] United States. Army. Illinois Infantry Regiment, 34th ( 1861- 1865) [ m4] United States. Army. Illinois Infantry Regiment, 89th ( 1862- 1865) [ m5] United States. Army. Ohio Infantry Regiment, 49th ( 1861- 1865) [ m6] United States. Army. Ohio Infantry Regiment, 49th ( 1861- 1865) [ m7] United States. Army. Ohio Infantry Regiment, 49th ( 1861- 1865). Company H [ m8] United States. Army. Ohio Infantry Regiment, 49th ( 1861- 1865). Company E [ m9] United States. Army. Ohio Infantry Regiment, 49th ( 1861- 1865). Company K [ m10] United States. Army. Ohio Infantry Regiment, 49th ( 1861- 1865) [ m11] United States. Army. Ohio Infantry Regiment, 49th ( 1861- 1865). Company E [ m12] United States. Army of the Ohio. Division, 2nd. Brigade 6th. [ m13] United States. Army. Ohio Infantry Regiment, 49th ( 1861- 1865) [ m14] United States. Army of the Ohio. Division, 2nd. |
| Subject-LCSH | Thomas, Cyrus, b. ca. 1832--Diaries
Soldiers--Ohio--Biography
Ohio--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives
Dog Walk, Battle of, Ky., 1862
Lawrenceburg, Battle of, Ky., 1862
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| Subject-TGM | Campaigns & battles--1860-1870
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| Subject-Keywords | confederacy
confederate soldiers
Chesser's Store
American Civil War
War Between the States
War of Secession
War of the Rebellion
49th Ohio
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| Source | Original housed in the Archives and Regional History Collections, Western Michigan University; A- |
| Language | eng |
| Collection Title | United States Civil War Collection |
| Contributors | Sharon Carlson, Western Michigan University Archives and Regional History Collections; Creation of machine-readable version and digital images: Paul Howell, Lou Ann Morgan, Libby Catt, Western Michigan University Libraries Digitization Center; Metadata: Sheila Bair, Deborah Mouw, Western Michigan University Libraries Cataloging Dept. |
| Publisher | Western Michigan University |
| Rights Management | Copyright 2006 Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan, all rights reserved. The digital version is available for educational use under 'Fair Use' guidelines. For additional permission and further information contact the WMU Libraries, Digitization Center: lib-dc@wmich.edu |
| Type | text |
| Format | image/tiff; image/jp2; application/pdf |
| Date Digital | 05/24/2006 |
| Resource Identifier | USCW0001 |
| Identifier | EXWA_USCW_DIthoPDF |
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