*Website Curator's Note:  This diary has been transcribed without editing original spelling errors, punctuation etc.  Any additions by the transcriber are shown in 'Parantheses' and in a different font and color.  Illustrations are "thumbnailed', click to open., including ones above.

1863 Phineas Bird Diary

P. Bird, Com. C, 100^th Reg^t PV

3^rd. Brig. 1^st. Div. 9^th A.C.

Falmouth, Newport News, Hampton, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Lexington, Camp Dick Robinson, Middleburg, Columbia, Snyder’s Bluff

Phineas Bird’s Diary

Commencing  January 1^st. 1863

Phineas Bird, Company C, 100^th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers

1              January 1 A.D. 1863

Thursday 1^st.

Wrote a letter home No. one.  Had a merry time in camp but nothing of unusual importance occurred.

Saturday 3^rd.

On picket duty along the river.  The enemy threw bullets across to us marked with “Com C. 5^th Texas”, “Goodnight boys” __.

2              Falmouth Va.

Sunday 4^th

Marched to camp after being relieved by a part of the 79^th N.Y. and were afterwards called out to brigade preaching which was conducted by our chaplin and the chaplin of 36th Mass.

Monday 5^th

Reading “Rawson the Renegade or the Squatters revenge.”

Tuesday 6^th

Grand review by Gens. Burnside and Sumner.

3          Falmouth, Va.

Wednesday 7^th

On camp guard.

Thursday 8^th

Joseph Gordon arrived and brought me a letter from home.

Friday 9^th.

Battalion drill by Major Dawson.

Saturday 10^th.

Reading the Venetian Outlaw.  Rain fell all day and made it very disagreeable.

4          Falmouth, Va.

Sunday 11^th

Wrote a letter and attended preaching.

Monday 12^th

On picket at the river.  Reading the “Hunted Chick.”

Tuesday 13^th

We’re relieved of picket and marched to camp.

Wednesday 14^th

Battalion Drill

Thursday 15^th

On guard at Col. Leasure’s headquarters.  Plenty of rain all night.

5          Falmouth, Va.

Friday 16^th.

Sent my diary for 1862 home.  Received orders to cook rations and to be ready to march next morning at an early hour.

Saturday 17^th.

The marching orders were delayed indefinitely.

Sunday 18^th

Clear and cold.  Remained in the tent reading “Oonamoo”.   Received a letter from D.M.Ward.

(Transcriber’s note: "Oonamoo" is definitely what it looks like written in the diary but I can find no references to this name on the internet, anywhere)

Monday 19^th

Nothing going on in camp unusual.  Dress parade in the evening.

6          Falmouth, Va.

Tuesday 20^th

Troops marching up the river.  Wrote to D.M Ward.

Wednesday 21^st

On picket out along the river and were favored with a continuous fall of rain all night.  A house was burned in the town during the night and it made a brilliant light.

Thursday 22^nd

Had a parley with the pickets on the other side who belonged to the 1^st. South Carolina, Col. Edwards.

7          Falmouth, Va.

Friday 23^rd

Wrote home.  The troops who marched up the river passed on their return to their former camps.

Saturday 24th

Visited Charles M. McCoy of the 140^th Regt Pa. Vols.

Sunday 25^th

On guard near Col. Leasure’s headquarters.  Received a letter from home.

Monday 26^th

Spent the day refixing our tent with timber which we got at the camp of the 27^th N.J.

8          Falmouth, Va.

Tuesday 27^th

On picket reserve behind one of the batteries.  Rain all day and night.

Wednesday 28^th

Commenced snowing at daylight and we had a disagreeable time night we reached camp after being relieved.

Friday 30^th

Reading “Red Jack the Scout’s Rifle”

9          Falmouth, Va.

Saturday 31^st

On brigade guard from dark until 9 o’clock P.M.

10        Falmouth, Va.

February 1^st

Preaching by the chaplin.

Monday 2^nd

Wrote to D.M. Ward.  Beautiful weather. Dress parade.

Tuesday 3^rd

We’re called out for inspection but the order was countermanded on account of the cold.

Wednesday 4^th

In the tent doing nothing as usual.

Thursday 5^th

Went on picket along the river.  Very cold.

11        Falmouth, Va.

but moderated toward evening and snow and rain fell all night.

Friday 6^th

We’re relieved by a part of the 50^th P.V. Sergeant Cleland was buried on the funeral escort.  Orders to be ready to march.  (Transcriber’s Note: Sgt. Addison Cleland, Co. C, died February 5, 1863 of disease)

Saturday 7^th

Wrote home. Fine day.

Tuesday 10^th

Received orders to pack our knapsacks at 12 and we started for the station at 2 pm.

12        Potomac River

We marched to the station where after considerable delay we got on the cars and went to the mouth of the Aquia creek reaching the latter place after dark.  Our baggage was put a-board and we embarked on the “Sylvan shore”

Transcriber’s Note: Steamboat "Sylvan Shore", painting by James Bard (1815-1897), m. 19th Century, Collection of the New York Historical Society, Goache on Cardboard. http://www.bridgemanimages.com/en-GB/asset/192713/bard-james-1815-97/the-steamboat-sylvan-shore-gouache-on-cardboard/span>

Wednesday 11^th

Started at daylight and went to the mouth of the Potomac river where we had to remain overnight as the Chesapeake bay was so rough that we could not venture out.

13        Newport News

Thursday 12^th

Started at 8 A.M. and went to Fortress Monroe where we anchored.

Friday 13^th

Went to Newport News and disembarked.  On fatigue duty unleashing baggage.  Made our camp in the evening. 

Saturday 14^th

Carrying pine from the woods to fix our tent with.

Sunday 15^th

On fatigue duty at the wharf unloading tents.

14        Newport News

Monday 16^th

Playing ball on the parade ground.  (Transcriber’s Note: Ball likely being ‘baseball’)

Friday 20^th

Putting up our new tents and improving our camp generally. 

Sunday 22^nd

Cold and disagreeable.  Snow fell last night.

Wednesday 25^th

Grand review.  Warm and pleasant.  Dress parade.

Thursday 26^th

Company and battalion drill.  Was weighed and am

15        Newport News

 one hundred and ninety one pounds.  (Transcriber’s Note:  This is interesting.  In late 1861 and early 1862 when they were less active in South Carolina campaign he was gaining weight as he was weighed over his first months of service. Here, he was gaining even more though they were more mobile and you would think he would be losing weight.  It is suggested that Bird was still growing as he was only 20 years old in 1863 and was filling out into a strapping young man.)

Friday 27^th

Company and battalion drill in the Forenoon and the same in the afternoon with dress parade in the evening.

Saturday 28^th

On brigade guard. Lieut. Brigham (William F.), Com I, 36^th Mass officer of the guard.  Inspection of arms, quarters, and knapsacks.  And muster for pay. Rec’d a letter from M. Fitzsimmons.

16        Newport News

March 1^st 1863

Attended preaching.

Monday 2^nd

Company and battalion drills in the forenoon and afternoon. Col. Leasure made a speech to the regiment on dress parade.

Tuesday 3^rd

Company and battalion drills and dress parade.

Wednesday 4^th

Regimental inspection, brigade drill, man-

17        Newport News

euvered by battalions closed “en masse”. Dress parade.

Thursday 5^th

Company drill and dress parade.  Wrote to M. Fitzsimmons.

Friday 6^th

Inspection by Captain Gilhan (Gilliland) of Company K who is acting inspector Gen.

Sunday 8^th

Inspection, preaching, and dress parade.

Monday 9^th

Company drill in the morning which was followed by Capt Cline drilling the bat. (battalion).

18        Newport News

Tuesday 10^th

We were not called out to drill am today on account of the weather being disagreeable.

Wednesday 11^th

The 8^th Mich. Were presented with a flag in presence of the 1^st Div.

Thursday 12^th

On fatigue duty loading hay at the wharf.

Friday 13^th

3^rd Div. moved.  Company drill on breaking files from the flanks to the run.  Bat. drill by Captain Bentley.

19        Newport News

Saturday 14th

Brig. Drill.  Some resolutions were adopted by regiment and sent to be published. (Transcriber’s Note: These resolutions are summarized in this transcription of this newspaper article from the Mercer County Dispatch, March 27, 1863 as written from Newport News, March 14, 1863 à http://www.100thpenn.com/mercerdispatch.htm)

 Sunday 15^th

Inspection at 8 o’clock am

Monday 16^th

The normal drills and dress parade.

Tuesday 17^th

Company, Battalion and Brigade drills.  Received orders to cook two days rations.

Wednesday 18^th

The order to cook rations was countermanded.  Inspections.  Wrote home.

20        Hampton.

Thursday 19^th

Marched to Hampton and bivouaced.

Friday 20^th

In Hampton all day.  Considerable snow fell.

Saturday 21^st

Started in the evening and marched to Fortress Monroe where we went aboard the steamer John Brooks.

Transcriber’s Note: Steamer John Brooks.  Watercolor by Edward Lamson Henry, November 1864

Sunday 22^nd

Started early up the Chesapeake bay.  Pleasant day and the water calm.  Had good quarters & a fine time generally.

21        “en Route”

Monday 23^rd

Arrived at Baltimore & disembarked at Boyce’s Wharf, Locust Point.  Went aboard the cars at dark & slept on them.

Tuesday 24^th

Left Baltimore at noon on the Balt. & Ohio R.R.  Passed the Relay House 9am.  From B. from which we followed the Patapsco River towards it’s source.  Passed Llchester, a neat village on the North side of the river and also Elysville (now Alberton) on the south side of the river.  Still further

Transcriber’s Note: Union soldiers along the Balt. & Ohio RR in front of the Relay House.

22        En Route                                                                                                        

Up we passed Marriottsville, Woodstock station and Dykesville.

Wednesday 25^th

Breakfasted at Harper’s Ferry, crossed over into Virginia and made our way slowly to the westward.  Crossed the Shenandoah—passed through Martinsburg-Cherry Run & –Sleepy Creek & Hancock—Sir John’s run & Great Cacapon, Little Cacapon, Patterson’s creek and took dinner in Cumberland, the mountain city.  Between Martinsburg &

23        En Route

Cumberland the scenery was grand, wild & romantic.  Got aboard after dinner and went ahead passing Brady’s mill &, Rawlings &- Black Oak Bottom—New Creek and stopped an hour at Piedmont at dark.

Thursday 26^th

Ate breakfast in Grafton & then went on through Webster-Bridgeport-Clarksburg-Salem-West Union-Central-Ellenboro-Cornwallis-Petroleum-Caring?-Kenawha-Claysville-Parkersburg

Transcriber’s Note: Baltimore & Ohio RR towns and places mentioned in Bird’s diary.

24        En Route

where we went aboard the steamer Jennie Rogers and started down the Ohio at 10 P.M.

Friday 27^th

Passed Gallipolis, Ohio.  _______ Steamer Oman ascending the river with troops, Burlington, Big Sandy, Ashley, Sciotoville at the mouth of the little Scioto River, Steamer Lea Cross (Lacrosse) on which the 45^th P.V. were embarked Portsmouth at the mouth of the south river Leniner, Manchester

25            En Route

on Manchester island, three Kentucky Ladies who were firing rifles on the shore, Ripley, Dover, Augusta, Steamer Leah, Erie; and arrived at Cincinnati.

Saturday 28^th

Crossed the river to Covington where we took the cars on the K.C. RR.  Went through Cynthiana & Paris & arrived at Lexington.

Sunday 29^th

Encamped in a beautiful walnut grove.  Went to the

26        Lexington

city.  Went to pray at the Second Pres (Presbyterian) Church of Lex (Lexington)

Monday 30^th

Signed the payroll and were payed for 4 months or up to the 1^st of March.  Went to town and had an oyster supper.

Tuesday 31^st

Took a walk in the country.  Received a visit from Alpin (Alpine) Matheney of the 18^th Ohio Battery.

27        Lexington

Words engraved on marble on the tomb of Henry Clay, Lexington, Kentucky.  “I can with unshaken confidence appeal to the Divine Arbiter for the truth of the dedication that I have been influenced by no impure purpose, no personal motive, have sought no personal aggrandizement but that in all my public  acts, I have had a sole and single eye, and a warm, devoted heart, directed and dedicated to what, in my best judgment, I believed to be the true interests of my country”

Transcriber’s Note: Tomb of Henry Clay, Lexington, Kentucky The inscription in marble that Corp. Phineas Bird quotes in his diary entry from March 31st 1863 is seen in the photo on the right at the base of the tomb.

28        April 1863

Wednesday 1^st

Inspection and battalion drill.  Fred  & I went to town and got our likenesses taken.  (Transcriber’s Note:  Fred is likely Corp. Fred Pettit, but also possibly Pvt. Fred Bauder, I lean toward Pettit since Pettit often mentions Bird in his letters and diaries. Not sure if there is any of these photographs that survived, Bird gets his likeness taken again in Knoxville, TN six months later, October 3, 1863 with Adison White.) 

Sunday, 5^th

The 36^th (Massachusetts) left in the direction of Covington.  In the evening inspection and dress parade.  Took a stroll in the country.

Monday, 6^th

Went to the theater at night.  The three romances were

29        Camp Dick Robinson

“The Faint heart never won fair lady”, “20 minutes with a tiger” & “Dead Shot”.

Tuesday 7^th

Working on the fort.  Rec’d marching orders.

Wednesday 8^th

Marched from Lexington to Nicholasville a distance of 19 miles.

Thursday 9^th

Marched from Nicholasville to camp Dick Robinson near _________.  Distance 14 miles.  Crossed the Kentucky River at noon.

30        Dick Robinson

Friday 10^th

On camp guard.  Very warm.  General muster.

Saturday 11^th

My twentieth birthday.  The 50^th P.V., the 46^th N.Y.V., the 27^th N.J.V. under command of Col. Christ passed along the road in the direction of Tenn.  Very warm and rain at night.  Dress parade in the evening.  Wrote home.  (Transcriber’s Note:  Bird mentions it being his birthday on this day, April 11^th and turning 20.  This is confirmed from other sources that he was born April 11, 1843.)

31        Dick Robinson

Sunday 12^th

Company inspection.  On patrol with an order to arrest straglers (stragglers)

Monday 13^th

Col. Leasure resumed command of the Regt. & Gen. Welch (Welsh) took command of the Brig.  Dress parade.

Tuesday 14^th

Inspection & dress parade.

Wednesday 15^th

Took a walk into the country.   Some prisoners were brought in.  Dress parade.

32        Dick Robinson

Friday 17^th

On picket near Dix River.  Very warm. 

Saturday 18^th

W. (Pvt. Winans) Watson & I took a tour to Dix River.  I had a splendid bath.

Transcriber’s Note:  Union soldiers bathing in a river.  Though this would have been a welcome relief to their wellbeing, it didn’t happen often enough as camps were typically overrun with uncleanliness. From Shorpy.com http://www.shorpy.com/node/3729?size=_original#caption.

Sunday 19^th

Inspection of arms.  Wrote home.

Monday 20^th

Grand Review by Gen. Welsh.   Preaching in the evening by Mr. Browne.

Transcriber’s Note: Chaplain Robert Audley Browne, 100th Regt. Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, ‘The Roundheads’

33        Stanford (Tennessee)

Wednesday 22^nd

Company drill and dress parade.

Thursday 30^th

Left Camp Dick Robinson early marched to Stanford, a distance of 17 mi.  Passed through Lancaster on the route.

34        May 1863

Friday 1^st

On provost guard in Stanford.  A prisoner escaped through a window of the Provost Marshall’s office but we recaptured him.  Marched to Hustonville a distance of 10 miles.

Saturday 2^nd

Marched to Middleville (Middleburg) & encamped near a branch

35        Camp Leasure

of the Greeen River.  Marched about 9 miles.

Sunday 3^rd

Was sent to guard a house with a squad of six men.  Stacked arms on the porch and slept a night. Wet day.

Monday 4^th

Moved our camp a short distance down the stream.

36        Middleburg

Saturday 9^th

Fisher, Tebay and S.A. White went home on a furlough.

Sunday 10^th

Received a new Springfield rifle.  Inspection of arms.  Grand demonstration at night in hour of the supper.  Capture of Richmond.  (Transcriber’s Note:  Not sure what Corp. Bird is talking about here—possibly joking about capture of Richmond, VA which didn’t happen until the end of the war—or possibly he was permitted to test fire his new Springfield rifle in the evening and it caused a spectacle?   There is a Richmond, TN, but no record of any action there on May 10, 1863)

Monday 11^th

Abandoned our camp to Middleburg.  The 45^th (Pennsylvania Volunteers) went to Hustonville.

37        Middleburg

Tuesday 12^th

On guard at the Post Comissaries.

Thursday, 14^th

Were sent to the front to support the picket.

Sunday, 17^th

Preaching in the camp.  Went out on picket in the evening.    

Wednesday 20^th

Wrote to W.B. Cunningham.  Dress parade in the evening.

38        Liberty, Ky.

Friday 22^nd

On guard at the Post Commissary’s with H.W. and Wine (Pvt. Winans) Watson and James (Pvt. of Co. C) Sullivan.

Saturday 23^rd

Marched 10 miles passing through Liberty & encamping 2 miles below it on Green River.

Sunday 24^th

Rested and cooked rations.  Received letters and wrote home.  Passed the day away very pleasantly.

39        Columbia, Ky.

Monday 25^th

Marched at 5 A.M. and advanced 10 miles before dinner & five miles after.  Encamped on the south bank of the river near Neatsville.

Tuesday 26^th

Reveillie beat at ½ past 2 A.M. and started at 4.  Marched 15 miles and encamped near Russell’s creek not far from Columbia.  The march was executed before 10 A.M.

40        Columbia, Ky.

Wednesday, 27th

Started out on a scout the party consisting of two regiments of infantry, 400 cavalry and 1 section of artillery.  Left camp at 7 pm and marched 10 miles.

Thursday 28^th

The cavalry went out on a scout.  Rested in the woods under birch trees.  Rained in the night.

Friday 29^th.

Breakfasted at a country house.  Marched 8 miles

41        Columbia, Ky. 

to the westward and took up our quarters in a barn among the hay. 

Saturday 30^th

Four prisoners were captured and brought in by the cavalry.  Marched 14 miles to our camp at Columbia.  The road was very bad and the rain fell in torrents.  Forded Russell’s creek & arived at camp about midnight.  (Transcriber’s Note:  Bird consistently misspells arrived as ‘arived’ throughout the diary.  He also misspells bivouacked as ‘bivouaced’; understandable as the noun is ‘bivouac’.)

42        Columbia, Ky.

Sunday 31^st

Awoke very late in the morning.  Wrote home.  Had an inspection of arms at 4 P.M.

43        Columbia, Ky.

June 1863

Monday 1^st

Stood picket on the Jamestown road in company with Leary, Aiken and Wine Watson.  We caught some stray horses and had a ride.

Tuesday 2^nd

Were relieved by a part of the 79^th N.Y.  Crossed Russell’s creek and encamped near Columbia.

Thursday 4^th

Marched at 4 A.M.  Passed through Campbellsville & bivouaced. Made 23 ms. (miles) am.

44        En Route

Friday 5^th

Marched to Lebanon a distance of 18 miles. Were payed off for two months.

Saturday 6^th

Started on the cars at an early hour & passed through Louisville.  Crossed the Ohio.  Took the cars again at Jeffersonville. Went to Seymour and changed cars.  Went ahead on the St. Louis and Cin. (Cincinnati) R.R. all night.

45        Cairo, Ill.

Sunday 7^th

Crossed White river, Wabash river and passing Summit, Fairmont, Clay City, Flora, Zenia and at Sandoval where we changed cars.

Monday 8^th

Went from Sandoval to Cairo on the Ill Cen. (Central) R.R.  Got off the cars at Cairo, stacked arms and spent the day in the city.  Went aboard the steamer Alice Dean in the evening.

Transcriber’s Note: 1863 constructed Alice Dean, sidewheel steamboat.  Confederate John Hunt Morgan (“Morgan’s Raiders) burned the steamer in July 1863 after capturing and using it themselves for a short time.  Bird and the rest of the Roundhead Regiment used the steamer to transport to the Vicksburg, MS campaign under U.S. Grant.

46        Memphis, Tenn.

Tuesday 9^th

Wrote a letter, took it ashore & put it in the office.  Started down the Mississippi stopped at Columbus, Ky.  Passed Island No. 10.  Tied up at night.

Wednesday 10^th

Passed Fort Pillow (Transcriber’s note:  the Fort Pillow massacre happened a year later-1864) and arived at Memphis Tenn.  Got a pass and went ashore to behold the city and the wonders thereof.

47        En Route.

Thursday 11^th

Remained all day at the wharf.

Friday 12^th

Started early and steamed down the river.  Stopped at Helena, Ark. Passed Delta, Miss. And tied up at the mouth of White river near Napoleon.

Saturday 13^th

Passed Tallula & Lake Providence.  Stopped for the night at Millikens Bend.

48        Young’s Point, La.

Sunday 14^th

Went down to Young’s Point where we landed.  Firing all day and night from the mortars.  Vicksburg in sight.

Monday 15^th

Marched across the Point to a place opposite Warrenton and below Vicksburg.  Went back in the evening to Young’s Point and went to bed.

49        Snyder’s Bluff, Miss.

Tuesday 16^th

Got aboard the Sam Young and steamed up the Yazoo to Snyder’s Bluff where we tied up.  On guard.

Transcriber’s Note:  View of Snyder’s Bluff area in July 1863 with build up of union troops during siege on Vicksburg, MS.

 Wednesday 17^th

Landed and encamped about three miles out along the Bluffs.

Saturday 20^th

Heavy firing at Vicksburg in the morning.  Inspection by Captain Gilhan (Gilliland)

Transcriber’s Note: Captain Joseph Gilliland, Co. K mentioned often in Bird’s diary as conducting inspections (arms, knapsacks, etc.)

Monday 22^nd

Received orders to be ready to march.

50        Flower Hill Church

Tuesday 23^rd

Orders countermanded.  Part of the 18^th Corps passed.

Wednesday 24^th

Chopping timber in front of the rifle pits.

Transcriber’s Note:  A soldier’s rifle pit during the Civil War was different than modern soldiers as they did not typically carry entrenching tools.   A pile of logs arranged such as the artist’s sketch depicts would give rudimentary protection from the enemy.

Monday 29^th

Left Mill-dale & marched to Flower Hill Church about 8 ms (miles).

Tuesday 30^th

Were stationed at headquarters as a support of the picket.

51        Big Black River

July 1^st, 1863.

Making our camp and gathering berries.

Saturday 4^th

Marched 5 miles in the direction of the Big Black (River). 

5^th Sunday                                                             

Marched across bear creek and bivouaced. 

Transcriber’s Note:  Image of rocky shoals on Bear Creek through Tishomingo State Park, MS.  The landscape that Bird and the Roundheads marched across in June and July of 1863 may have looked something like this.

6^th Monday

Waiting for the pioneers to make a bridge across the river.  (Transcriber’s note:  Ditch diggers or other laborers were often referred to as ‘pioneers’).

7^th Tuesday

Crossed the river.

Jackson, Miss (no page number)

Wednesday 8^th

Marched 10 ms (miles) towards Jackson.

Thursday 9^th

Marched all day.

Friday 10^th

Marched all day & had a skirmish in the evening & took the Lunatic Asylum.  (Transcriber’s Note:  Not sure what Bird is referring to here regarding ‘Lunatic Asylum’ but he and his comrades may have felt a little crazy in the head after marching all day followed by a skirmish in the evening considering the high heat and humidity and lack of good water in the area).

Saturday 11^th

Advanced to support the skirmishers in front of the enemy’s rifle pits.

 Jackson, Miss (no page number)

Sunday 12^th

Were relieved by the 2^nd Div. Gen. Potter and went up the river on picket to the Eubank Plantation. 

Friday 28^th

Marched from Camp Park to Camp Dick Robinson.

(Transcriber’s Note:  Sketch of Camp Dick Robinson, KY near Nicholasville.  From Harper's Weekly

Saturday 29^th

Marched through Lancaster & encamped on the steepest hillside in the vicinity.

Sunday 30^th

Marched through Crab Orchard and encamped 1 mile from it.  Preaching in the evening by the Chaplin.

Mo. 31^st

Muster for pay.

En Route (No page #)

September 1863

Tuesday 1^st

On picket guard on the Lancaster Road. 

Mo. 7^th

Company & Battallion drills.

Thurs. 10^th

Marched 10 miles towards Mt. Vernon.  Eight days rations in our knapsacks & haversacks.

Fri. 11^th

Passed through Mt. Vernon, crossed Rock Castle Creek & passed Camp Wild Cat.

En Route (No page #)

Sat. 12^th

Marched early.  3^rd Brigade in front halted at the crossroads 47 miles from Richmond & 70 from Lexington.

Sunday 13^th

Were payed off for the months of July & August.  Received $11.25 extra of clothing allowance. 

Monday 14^th

Marched at 5 A.M. passing through Loudon.  Passed over two

 En Route (No page #)

 thousand prisoners of war in the P.M.  Marched 15 miles.

Tuesday 15^th

Arived at Barboursville on the Cumberland river after a march of 14 miles.

Wednesday 16^th

Marched 9 miles up the river.

17^th & 18^th

In camp resting.

Saturday 19^th

Made a march of 10 miles crossing the river above ____ Lake.

En Route (No page #)

Sunday 20^th

Marched 19 miles crossing the mountains at Cumberland Gap.

Monday 21^st

Marched 18 miles crossing Powell’s River & passing through Tazewell (TN).

Tuesday 22^nd

Marched to Morristown a distance of 21 miles.  Forded Clynch River.  Crossed Clynch Mountain-passed Bean’s Station-forded Holston river.

Knoxville, Tenn. (No page #)

Wednesday 23^rd

Got aboard the cars at Morristown and through a mistake of the telegraph operator who sent the order we were sent to Greenville instead of Knoxville.  But the mistake being discovered we run from Greeneville to Knoxville.  Between Morristown & Greenville we passed Whitesburg, Rogersville Junction & _____Way.

Knoxville, Tenn (No page #)

Thurs. 24^th

Encamped one mile from Knoxville up the Holston River.

Mon. 28^th

Were waked up long before daylight & ordered to pack up.  Crossed the river at the ferry & took up position on the first hill we came to.  Our detachment consisting of 4 regiments (3^rd Brig.) & 4 pieces of artillery took position to guard the road. Each piece being

(No page #)

supported by a regiment.  Heard heavy firing at Loudon Bridge. 

Tu. 29^th

Went out on picket in the evening. 

Wedns. 30^th

Were relieved from guard & marched to camp. 

Knoxville Tenn. (No page #)

October Thurs. 1^st

Wet weather & nothing going on in camp.

Fri. 2^nd

Wrote home.

Sat. 3^rdAd. (Adison) White & I went over to town & got our photographs taken.

Transcriber’s Note:  Pvt. Adison White (left) and Corp. Phineas Bird get their likenesses taken in Knoxville, TN October 3, 1863.  It is easy to see this was the same photographer’s studio with the same card stock and similar pose. --Images From The Civil War in Pennsylvania, A Photographic History, Kraus, Neville, Turner, 2012, Pennsylvania Heritage Foundation, Images used with permission  . .

Thurs. 8^th

Marched to the K. A. Depot at Knoxville & awaited transportation.

Fri. 9^th

Got aboard the cars & went to Rogersville Junction where we disembarked.  Gen. Burnside

Knoxville Tenn (No page #)

accompanied us on the route.

Sat. 10^th

Marched to Blue Springs & engaged the enemy under Brig. Gen. Williams late in the evening.  Drove them about half a mile when night coming on closed the contest.  Lay on our arms during the night.

Su. 11^th

We found that the enemy had retreated & we took up our

Knoxville Tenn. (No page #)

line of march in pursuit.  Made a march of 10 miles & captured the enemy’s wagon train.  Bivouaced near ____town.

Mo. 12^th

Remained in camp.  The cavalry still being in pursuit. 

Tu. 13^th

Marched to the rail-road about three miles from Blue Springs

Wedns. 14^th

Marched to the junction of the Rogersville R.R.

Knoxville Tenn. (No page #)

Thurs. 15^th

Marched to Morristown.

Fri. 16^th

Got on the cars, went to Knoxville & encamped.

Sat. 17^th

J.A. Craig & I went to the city. Mr. (Chaplain Robert Audley) Browne returned to the regiment & held service in the evening.

Mo. 19^th

Built our tent up very nice in the forenoon & received marching orders in the P.M.

Loudon (No page #)

Tuesday 20^th

Marched 15 miles down the river and bivouaced.

Wedns. 21^st

Marched 11 miles and encamped about 4 miles from Loudon Bridge.

Thurs. 22^nd

Marched to Loudon and encamped.

Sat. 24^th

The cavalry advanced & engaged the enemies skirmishers for some time.

Mon. 26^th

Went out on picket.  The rebel cavalry charged

Lenoir Station (No page #)

on the picket and captured two of the 20^th Michigan.

Wedns. 28^th

Retreated across the Holston (River), took up the pontons (pontoons) and run the locomotive which was on the S. side of the river into the stream.  Bivouaced at Lenoir Station. 

(Transcriber’s Note:  I’ve never heard this story—it sounds like several of the regiment were able to push a locomotive into a stream, thus rendering it useless to the Confederate army.  I can only imagine how this was accomplished—possibly using rope and/or chain, which would have been available.)  Damaging the enemy’s railroad lines was common practice, especially late in the war.  The image above shows soldiers bending hot rail around a tree (“Sherman Bow Tie”), thus making it unuseable during William Tecumseh Sherman’s March to the Sea.

 Thurs. 29^th

Moved camp about one mile and received orders to build winter quarters.

30^th and 31^st

Getting timber for our quarters.

November (No page #)

Su. 1^st

The chaplin of the 20^th Mich. Held service in our regt.

Mo. 2^nd

On camp guard.

3^rd and 4^th

Engaged at our winter quarters.

Thurs. 5^th

Inspection of arms by Captain Gilliland. 

Friday 6^th

Were waked up at 10 P.M. & ordered to pack our knapsacks.

Sat. 7^th

The company with the exceptions of Wm. Smiley and myself got on

Lenoire Sta. (No page #)

board the cars at two A.M. & went to Knoxville.  Smiley & I kept house for the Lieut.

Transcriber’s Note:  Sgt. William Smiley, Co. C, Michael Kraus Collection, Used with Permission.  All Rights Reserved.

Su. 8^th

Sitting by the fire and waiting for something to happen.

Mo. 9^th

The company came home in the evening without sustaining any loss whatever.

Wedns. 11^th

Had a tooth pulling operation performed by the

Lenoire Sta. (No page #)

Surgeon.  (Transcriber’s Note:  This is the second entry by Bird mentioning issues with his teeth, though he never complains about this or anything in his diary—remarkable.)

Thurs. 12^th

A ponton (pontoon) was thrown across the Holston above the mouth of the Little Tennessee.

Fri. 13^th

Rec’d orders to remain in camp & be prepared for active operations.

Sat. 14^th

Were ordered to pack up in the morning & we soon after started with the

On-the-march (No page #)

wagon trains for Knoxville.  The ponton bridge across the Holston was destroyed, the enemy crossing below Loudon.  Gen. Burnside arived at Lenoire & took command of the army in person. Considerable rain fell today.

Su. 15^th

On our march towards Knoxville.  The train moved very slow as the road was bad.

Knoxville (No page #)

Mo. 16^th

Arived at Knoxville & bivouaced with the train near the fair ground.   A part of Wilcox’s (Transcriber’s note: Gen. Orlando B. Willcox) troops arived on the cars.

Tues. 17^th

Moved to the fort West of the town where we joined our brigade.  Our skirmishers were engaged about a mile in front of us all day.  Captain Critchlow returned from Cincinnati.  Slept

Knoxville (No page #)

at night in rear of the rifle pit.  The enemy made their camp to the North West of our position.

Wedns. 18^th

The enemy advanced their line & drove our skirmishers in.

Thurs. 19^th

Went out as sharpshooter & got wounded in the head.  Was taken to the Hospital in the evening. (Transcriber’s Note:  Bird was back at his diary only 5 days after getting wounded in the head!  He returns to service in April of 1864 after a February 1864 furlough and gets shot in the head AGAIN at The Battle of the Mine Explosion, July 30, 1864.)

Knoxville (No page #)

Tues. 24^th                                                                                                                                                                                          

The 2^nd Michigan charged on the enemy and took their first line of rifle pits but could not hold it. 

Wedns. 25^th

The surgeon performed an operation on my head.

Su. 29^th

The rebels charged on Fort Saunders three times but were repulsed every time.  The enemy

Knoxville (No page #)

lost over one hundred killed besides several stands of collors (colors) & about three hundred prisoners.

Transcriber’s Note:  Please visit this link to get more history of the Battle of Fort Saunders and the Roundheads involvement.  Two Roundheads were killed there, Pvts. Isaac Garretson and Aaron Templeton, of Co. A.

Knoxville (No page #)

December 1863

Sat. 5^th

Gen. Sherman came up to our relief & the enemy ran away.  The 9^th corps followed the enemy in the direction of Strawberry plains.

Wedns. 9^th

One brigade of troops from Kingston passed through town.           

Sat. 12^th

Rec’d two months pay.

Knoxville (No page #)

 Tues. 15^th

Took a stroll in town for the first time since I was wounded.  (Transcriber’s Note: It was very common for soldiers to complain about their discomforts, illnesses and war wounds through their diaries and letters.  Bird, on the other hand does not seem to complain about much of anything!)

Thurs. 31^st

Gen. Grant in Knoxville.

1864 (No page #)

January

Fri. 1^st

Very cold weather.

Wedns. 6^th

Saw Alpin (Alpine) Matheny who was going to join his batery (battery).  Saw some men for the regt. who came here for provisions.   Snow fell today but it was very slight.

Fri. 8^th

A rebel spy was executed by the authorities.

(No page # or heading)

Wedns. 13^th

Troops from Chattanooga passing through town & marching towards the front.

Tues. 19^th

The cavalry crossing the river on the ponton bridge. 

Wedns. 20^th

The cavalry still crossing the Holston.

Thurs. 21^st

The 4^th Corps passed through town and crossed the bridge.

Sat. 23^rd

The 4^th Corps recrossed the river.

Su. 24^th

The 9^th corps marched 5 ms. (miles) below town & encamped.

Fri. 29^th

Drew clothing—Overcoat, 1 pr. trousers, 1 pr. drawers, 1 pr. shoes, 1 pr. socks.

February 1864 (No page #)

Thurs. 4^th

Applied for a furlough.

Mo. 8^th

Took a walk out to the fortifications.

Tu. 9^th

Took a stroll out in the country.

Fri. 12^th

Drew a dress coat.

Sat. 13^th

Visited the boys in the 79^th (NY).

Su. 14^th

Went to the hospt. from the camp of the 9^th corps.

Mo. 15^th

The 9^th corps. moved to Knoxville.

Tues. 16^th

My furlough came in and was delivered to me by the Surgeon-in-charge.

Wedns. 17^th

Went to the depot & got transportation on the cars to Loudon.  Sgt. F. L. Bartholomew  10^th O (Ohio) Cav. & Jas. Mullen & I slept in a car.  (Transcriber’s Note:  Sgt. Francis L. Bartholomew died from a gunshot wound Dec. 8, 1864.)

Thurs. 18^th

Started at 12 m.(midnight)—passed _____-Sweetwater-Athens-Rosaville-Clarkston.  Crossed the Kiawana Cleveland & arrived at Chattanooga.  Slept in the soldiers home.

Fri. 19^th

Started at 6 A.M.  Passed Whiteside (TN), Shellmound (TN), crossed the Tennessee, Bridgeport (AL), Stevenson (AL). Went to bed.

Sat. 20^th

Arrived at Nashville about 8 A.M.  and went to the Soldier’s Home where we got plenty to eat & lodging until the train left at 4:30.

 (No Page #)

 P.M.  Run all night, took supper at Bowling Green (KY).

Sun. 21^st

Arrived at Louisville, Ky.  Stopped at the Soldier’s Home.  Preaching in the evening.   Got transferred, crossed the Ohio and took the 830 for Seymour (IN).

 Mo. 22^nd train

Started at 3 from Seymour and arrived at Cin. At 2 a.m.   Took the 830 train for

(No page #)

Columbus, changed cars at Newark, took supper at Jamesville, changed cars at Bellair, passed thru Bridgeport & Steubenville, got off at Rochester.

Tues. 23^rd

Walked from Rochester to ____ Wallren’s when I took breakfast, went to McGregors.

Wedns. 24^th

Visited ___ ____ at North Sewickly. 

(No page #)

Thurs. 25^th

Visited Locust Ridge.

Fri. 26^th

Got on the cars at Clinton Sta. & went to New Castle.  Ate dinner at the Colton House, went to Warren.

Sat. 27^th

Went to Mercer on the stage & then the _____ Corner & walked to Brownsville.

Su. 28^th

Arrived at home.

(No page #)

March

Fri. 4th

Attended a spelling at the schoolhouse. (Transcriber’s Note:  Interesting to ponder what he was doing here—a spelling bee?  Was he training to be a teacher? Or possibly went to the school with a younger sibling?)

Mo. 7^th

Took a trip to Utica.

Tu. 8^th

Visited Mr. Amon and Mr. Cotton.

Wedns. 9^th

Went to Mr. ____.

Thurs. 10^th

Spent the a.m. at Mr. Gordons.

Su. 13^th

Considerable snow fell.

Transcriber’s Note: Not sure of the significance of the last two pages of entries in Bird’s diary that list Wapello, IA.

(No page #)

Wapello Iowa

1868.

XX (with a circle around it)

1^st. Jan. 18^th

2^nd. Feb. 15^th

3^rd. Mar. 11^th.

 (No page #)

Wapello Iowa

1869

Jan. 24^th on 8.

(Transcriber’s Note: some scribble at end of diary with a few blank pages and then a final listing of Bird’s Service.  Bird returned to military service in April of 1864, based on the Letters of Corp. Fred Pettit, another comrade in Co. C.)  He was shot in the head again at the Battle of the Mine Explosion, July 30, 1864 and apparently spent some time in a confederate prison camp before being released.

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