Diary of Private Nial C. Spring, Company I, 67^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

 

April 12, 1864-October 28, 1864

 

 

April 12, 1864

Clear and pleasant, started for the regt, went to Cleveland, got transport to town

 

April 15

Left Cleveland at 8 o’clock and started for Pittsburgh, there was a freight train run off the track between Cleveland and Ravenna, so we could not connect and stopped at Lima

 

April 16

Went to uncle Isaac’s and uncle James’ today. Cloudy and ?

 

April 17

? and come to Lima

 

April 18

Clear and pleasant, left Lima at 11 o’clock for Pittsburgh, got there at 4 o’clock. Took the cars for Harrisburg, got there at ? o’clock. Changed cars for Baltimore arrive at 7 o’clock. Got transportation, stopped at 10 o’clock

 

April 19

Arrived at Washington at 12 o’clock and started for Camp Grant, got there at 9 o’clock

 

April 20

Was in camp and stayed all day clear and pleasant

 

April 21

Clear and ? was in camp, we drilled all day, company drill

 

April 22

Clear and pleasant, was in camp, hand company drill in the forenoon, in afternoon had battalion drill

 

April 23

Clear and pleasant, had no drill. Sylvester and me went fishing, we got some fish

 

April 24

Was in camp, it was clear and warm. We got marching orders

 

April 25

? at 10 o’clock, went to relax on the boat and was there all night

 

April 26

Clear and pleasant, stayed on the boat all day. We went up to the dock at Fortress Monroe about sundown, the boat we was on the balloon

 

April 27

Clear and pleasant, landed in the morning at Gloucester Point, Va. We went about 1 ˝ miles and camped

 

April 28

Clear and pleasant, sent some things home, was in camp all day

 

April 29

Clear and pleasant, was on detail to draw rations

 

April 30

Cloudy, had a grand review in the afternoon, was excused by the Lt.

 

May 1

Cloudy and rainy, was in camp all day, was excused by the Lt.

 

May 2

Cloudy and rainy, was in camp all day. Was excused by the Lt. In the afternoon the company had drill

 

May 3

Clear and cold, was in camp all day and company drill in the forenoon and brigade drill in the afternoon, got marching orders at night

 

May 4

Clear and cold, went to ? Point and went on board a boat. Was on the boat all day and was on guard at night

 

May 5

Clear and pleasant, was in the boat all day, we was in a fort on James River

 

May 6

Landed at Cherry, landed about 1 o’clock in the morning. Clear and pleasant, we went about 8 miles today, went to bed and got up at 11 o’clock and went about 1 mil further and stayed all night

 

May 10

8 killed and 6 wounded in our company

 

May 11

Cloudy and rainy, went out on picket, some skirmishing in front

 

May 12

Still on picket, still skirmishing in front, rainy

 

May 13

Rainy, still on picket and still fighting

 

May 14

Rainy, on picket yet, still fighting in the front

 

May 15

Still on picket, heavy firing in front, rainy

 

May 16

Rainy, heavy firing in front. Relieved from picket, preparing to go to the front

 

May 17

Clear and pleasant, was in camp all day, not much going on in camp

 

May 18

Clear and warm, was in camp all day, not much going on in camp

 

May 19

Clear and pleasant, was in camp all day, there was not  going on in camp but once in a while a shell came and burst, not doing much harm

 

May 20

Clear and warm, our brigade charged for our rifle pits, taken by the Rebs in the forenoon, had two wounded in company

 

May 21

Clear and warm, was inside the breastworks, was in a detail for fatigue. Worked on the breastworks at night, the Rebs attacked our pickets but we repulsed them

 

May 22

Clear and pleasant, was in camp all day, there was but little firing today

 

May 23

Clear and pleasant, was on a detail, did not feel very well. Was middling quiet

 

May 24

Cloudy, was in camp all day but had to be ready to fall in and go to the breastworks at any time

 

May 25

Cloudy and rainy, was in camp all day, did not feel very well. A lot of the regt went to the convalescent camp

 

May 26

Cloudy and rainy, was excused all day by the Lt. and went to the convalescent camp

 

May 27

Was in the convalescent camp all day, cloudy , ? by our tent

 

May 28

Clear and pleasant, was in the convalescent camp

 

May 29

Clear and warm, still in the convalescent camp

 

May 30

Cloudy and rainy, still in the convalescent camp

 

May 31

Clear and warm, still in the convalescent camp, got the flux

 

June 1

Still in convalescent camp, clear and warm

 

June 2

Clear and warm, still in the convalescent camp

 

June 3

Still in the convalescent camp, clear and pleasant

 

June 4

Still in the convalescent camp, clear and pleasant

 

June 5

Still in the convalescent camp, clear and pleasant

 

June 6

Still in the convalescent camp

 

June 7

Still in the convalescent camp

 

June 8

Clear and pleasant, still in convalescent camp, getting better, stayed around camp

 

June 9

Clear and warm and still at the convalescent camp, feel a good deal better

 

June 10

Clear and warm, still in the convalescent camp, some cannonading in front and some picket firing

 

June 11

Clear and pleasant, still in the convalescent camp, feel some better each day

 

June 12

? runs in the camp , was in camp all day ?, feel a good deal better today, Sylvester was here today

 

June 13

Changeable was in the convalescent camp all day, the National Guards are landing on the Peninsula

 

June 14

Changeable, was in camp all day, the convalescent, not much going on in camp today

 

June 15

Clear and pleasant, am getting some better, still in the convalescent camp, not much going on in camp. Cornelius came to see me today, some talk for Grant taking Petersburg today, but it is not so

 

June 16

Clear and warm, was in the convalescent camp all day, feel some better today, heavy firing in the front today

 

June 17

Clear and pleasant, not much going on in camp, still in the convalescent camp, feel some better today but am pretty weak

 

June 18

Clear and pleasant, was in the convalescent camp all day, heavy cannonading in front, don’t feel very well today

 

June 19

Clear and warm, was in the convalescent camp all day, feel some better today, some cannonading in front today

 

June 20

Clear and pleasant, Cornelius and Sylvester was in to see me today. There is heavy cannonading towards Meade’s army. Still in the convalescent camp, not so well today

 

June 21

Clear and pleasant, was in the convalescent camp all day, not much going on in camp, some better today

 

June 22

Clear and warm, went to camp for duty today, not much going on in camp today. Some little cannonading

 

June 23

Clear and warm, was in camp. Some shelling going on, was on detail in the forenoon

 

June 24

Clear and warm, the Rebs shelled our pickets this morning, a little picket firing all day. Was on fatigue in the afternoon

 

June 25

Changeable, some better but not able to do much duty yet, not much going on in camp

 

June 26

Clear and warm, was in camp all day, did not feel well, not much going on in camp

 

June 27

Clear and warm, don’t feel very well, was in camp all day, not much going on in camp, sent to New York for a book today

 

June 28

Clear and warm, was in camp, not much going on all day, am some better today

 

June 29

Cloudy, was in camp all day, not much going on in camp today, bombing away at Petersburg

 

June 30

Clear and warm, mustered for 2 months more pay today

 

July 1

Clear and warm, was in camp all day, not much going on in camp all day

 

July 2

Clear and warm, was excused by the Dr. Was in camp all day, not much going on in camp today

 

July 3

Clear and warm, was in camp all day. Was excused by the Dr., not much going on in camp. Helped make some pies

 

July 4

Clear and warm, helped make some pies and cakes for the 4^th of July, was excused by the Dr.

 

July 5

Clear and warm, was excused by the Dr. was in camp all day, and not much going on in camp all day

 

July 6

Clear and warm, was excused by the Dr., was in camp all day, not much going on in camp

 

July 7

Changeable with some rain, was in camp all day and not much going on in camp, was excused by the Dr.

 

July 8

Was excused by the Dr., clear and warm, was in camp all day, not much going on in camp

 

July 10

Clear and warm, not much going on in camp, was in camp all day. Was excused by the Dr.

 

July 11

Clear and warm, was excused by the Dr. Sylvester went to the convalescent camp today, not much going on in camp

 

July 12

Clear and warm, was excused by the Dr., not much going on in camp, was in camp all day

 

July 13

Clear and warm, was excused by the Dr. Not much going on in camp today

 

July 14

Clear and warm, was excused by the Dr., was relieved from the redoubt by Co. A of our regiment

 

July 15

Clear and warm, was excused by the Dr., not much going on in camp today

 

July 16

Clear and warm, was excused by the Dr. Our company went out on picket tonight

 

July 17

Clear and warm, was excused by the Dr. Our company was out on picket all day, come in from picket tonight

 

July 18

Clear and warm, was excused by the Dr., was over to the 150^th O.N.G., not much going on in camp

 

July 19

Clear and warm, was excused by the Dr., the company went out on picket at night

 

July 20

Clear and warm, was in camp all day, the company came in from picket at night

 

July 21

Clear, cloudy and warm, the regt stayed in camp all day and night, was detailed for camp guard in the morning, the regt went out on picket at night, clear and warm

 

July 22

Clear and warm, was detailed for camp guard, the company went out on picket at night, pleasant and warm, was on camp guard all day, the regt came in tonight off from picket tonight

 

July 23

Clear and warm, was on camp guard all day, today again, the company came in at night, clear and warm, was relieved from camp guard this morning after 48 hours duty. Was detailed for picket at night, traded for camp guard with one of the boys

 

July 24

Cloudy and some rain, the regt came in from picket at night, was relieved from camp guard this morning, cloudy with some rain, it rained all day. Was down to Point of Rocks to see Cornelius, he is getting better

 

July 25

Clear and warm, was in camp all day, the regiment went out on picket at night

 

July 26

Cloudy, was out on picket all day, was relieved at night, was taken sick out on picket

 

July 27

Was excused by the Dr., clear and warm, not much going on in camp

 

July 28

Was excused by the Dr., was in camp all day and was pretty sick

 

July 29

Was excused by the Dr., clear and warm, the regt is out on picket

 

July 30

The company came in from picket, clear and warm, excused from picket

 

July 31

Clear and warm, went out on picket at night and excused from picket

 

August 1

Clear and warm, came in from picket at night, was excused from picket

 

August 2

Clear and warm, was in camp all day, not much going on in camp

 

August 3

Clear and warm, was in camp all day making some pies

 

August 4

Clear and warm, was in camp all day, not much going on in camp, was on a detail for fatigue all day

 

August 5

Clear and warm, was in camp all day, not much going on in camp

 

August 6

Clear and warm, was in camp all day, not much going on in camp, signed the pay rolls

 

August 7

Clear and warm, was in camp all day, we got our pay today

 

August 8

Clear and warm, was to Point of Rocks to see Cornelius, going out on picket tonight

 

August 9

Clear and warm, but on picket I was one of the reserves, was relieved from picket at night

 

August 10

Clear and warm, was on camp guard all day, not much going on in camp, signed for a record of our company since it come out

 

August 11

Clear and warm, was relieved from guard in the morning, had company drill 4 hours a day

 

August 12

Clear and warm, was on drill in the forenoon, there was 28 detailed in our company for picket tonight

 

August 13

Clear and warm, the most of the regiment out on picket today, got marching orders at night, marched all night

 

August 14

Clear and warm, was out skirmishing with the Rebs, got tired out at night, Jim Pulver got wounded

 

August 15

Clear and warm, found the regt this morning, marched to the front, several of the boys got sunstroke today, laid in line of battle all day

 

August 16

Cloudy but awful warm, we lay in line of battle this morning, went out on the skirmish line and charged some Rebs breastworks. Our regt took one stand of colors from the Rebs, was sun struck

 

August 17

Cloudy and warm, the brigade on picket all day. I am excused by the Dr., was sun struck

 

August 18

Clear and warm, was excused by the Dr., the Rebs charged on our pickets. Our regt was on picket, 1 wounded in out company today

 

August 19

Cloudy and rainy, was excused by Dr., lay back to the regt all day, fortifying in front

 

August 20

Cloudy and rainy, was excused by the Dr., recrossed the river and put up the hospital, I stayed in the hospital all night

 

August 21

Tore down the hospital, the main force all back across the river, come back to the old camp. Put up tents, got marching orders at night, clear and warm

 

August 22

Clear and warm, got up at 2 o’clock in the morning and down to the Appomattox, laid down a while, got up and came back to the old camp. Was detailed for fatigue, strengthen around camp

 

August 23

Clear and warm, was in camp all day, was on a detail to level off the company street, stayed around camp today

 

August 24

Clear and warm, got marching orders for Petersburg about half after 11 o’clock, some of the boys went out on picket

 

August 25

Clear and warm, some of the regt on picket, the rest put ? for camp, left Bermuda Hundred and went to Petersburg

 

August 26

Clear and warm, cleaned up camp, was detailed for picket, a good deal of picket firing

 

August 27

Clear and warm, on the picket all day, was relieved from picket all night

 

August 28

Clear and warm, was excused by the Dr. on account of a ? on forefinger building bomb proofs

 

August 29

Clear and warm, was excused by the Dr., had regimental inspection, cleared up camp today, The regt went on picket

 

August 30

Clear and warm, was excused by the Dr., the regt on picket and one got wounded

 

August 31

Clear and warm, 2 wounded, the regt came in from picket at, was excused by the Dr, mustered for pay today

 

September 1

Clear and warm, was excused by the Dr., the company filling up the bomb proofs

 

September 2

Clear and warm, was excused by the Dr, not much going on in camp. The regt going out on picket tonight

 

September 3

Clear and warm, was excused by the Dr, went to see man hung for shooting one of his comrades in battle, the regt on picket. The boy that was hung belonged to the 7^th Connecticut

 

September 4

Clear and warm, was in camp all day, the regt out on picket, was excused by the Dr. The regt came in off from picket

 

September 5

Was in camp all day, was excused by the Dr, it rained at night

 

September 6

Cloudy and some rain, was excused by the Dr, the regt went out on picket tonight

 

September 7

Clear and warm, was excused by the Dr., the regt went out on picket, not much going on in camp

 

September 8

Clear and pleasant, was excused by the Dr., the regt came in from picket tonight

 

September 9

Clear and pleasant, was in camp all day, the regt goes out on picket tonight

 

September 10

Clear and pleasant, the regt out on picket today, lay on the reserve line, 9 of the boys come back to company

 

September 11

Clear and pleasant, on picket all day, lay on the reserve line, was relieved from picket tonight

 

September 12

Clear and pleasant, was in camp all day, not much going on in camp, going out on picket tonight

 

September 13

Clear and pleasant, the regt out on picket, our company going on the vidette line, at night, one killed in Co. G, 67^th O.V.I.

 

September 14

Cloudy with some rain, the regt on the vidette line. I am excused by the Dr., the regt relieved from picket tonight. One wounded in Co. K today

 

September 15

Clear and warm, was in camp all day, had a general inspection, going out on picket tonight

 

September 16

Clear and warm, out on picket all day on the reserve line. William Stotts and Isaac Clark came back to the regt today

 

September 17

Clear and pleasant, on picket all day, not much going on, was relieved from picket tonight

 

September 18

Cloudy, was in camp all day, not much going on in camp, going out on picket tonight

 

September 19

Clear and warm, on picket all day, not much going on, some artillery firing on, fatigued, fixing up the trenches today

 

September 20

Cloudy in the trenches all day, one man wounded around camp today of the 85^th Pennsylvania. On fatigue today fixing up the sluiceway, we were relived at night

 

September 21

Cloudy and rainy, not much going on in camp, going out on picket tonight

 

September 22

Cloudy and rainy, on picket all day, our company going out on the vidette line tonight

 

September 23

Cloudy and rainy, on vidette all day, was relieved at night, the Rebs are at work all the time in front

 

September 24

Clear and pleasant, was in camp all day, not much going on in camp. There was a salute of 100 guns fired this morning. Got marching orders, went on picket, was relieved at night

 

September 25

Clear and warm, started in the night and went back to the rear, relived by the 2^nd Corps, put up in camp

 

September 26

Clear and warm, was on drill in the afternoon, was on fatigue part of the day

 

September 27

Clear and warm, was on drill 1 ˝ hours then detailed for fatigue, had general inspection in the afternoon with knapsacks

 

September 28

Clear and warm, got marching orders, crossed the Appomattox river and went to Jones’ Landing and crossed the James river

 

September 29

Clear and warm, hard fighting in front, the regt about 11 miles from Richmond, Va.

 

September 30

Clear and warm, put up breastworks 11 miles from Richmond, on fatigue all day and half the night

 

October 1

Cloudy and rainy, on fatigue in the forenoon, went on a scout within 9 miles of Richmond and stayed till morn and some little skirmishing, went back to the breastworks, awful muddy

 

October 2

Cloudy and rainy, the Rebs attacked the pickets and got repulsed, on fatigue at night

 

October 3

Cloudy and rainy, on fatigue in the afternoon, not much going on, put up some stockades

 

October 4

Cloudy and rainy, detailed for picket, found a dead Reb out in front of the vidette line and buried him, not much going on in camp

 

October 5

Clear and pleasant, on picket, relieved from picket in the morning

 

October 6

Clear and pleasant, got our knapsacks, changed clothes, and got some things

 

October 7

Clear and warm, the Rebs charged our breastworks and got repulsed with a good many of them getting killed and wounded, our regt had 1 killed and 2 wounded

 

October 8

Clear and warm, laid out in line of battle all day, not much going on

 

October 9

Clear and warm, went to the right a pace and went to fortifying

 

October 10

Clear and pleasant to work building breastworks on detail to put up breastworks for the 199^th Pennsylvania

 

October 11

Clear and warm, had election today, not much going on

 

October 12

Clear and warm, was detailed for fatigue building a fort, got marching orders, went out 1 ˝ miles and turned around and came back

 

October 13

Clear and warm, the men went out and found the Rebs not very far off, they had got heavily entrenched, we charged their works and got repulsed. I had the ague today, 4 killed and 9 wounded

 

October 14

Clear and cold, had the ague today. The company went out on picket, signed the pay rolls at night

 

October 15

Clear and cool, got pay, drawed $72, not much going on in camp

 

October 16

Clear and cool, sent $22 home, not much going on in camp today

 

October 17

Clear and cool, not much going on in camp

 

October 18

Cloudy and cool, the company on fatigue

 

October 19

Clear and cool, went on picket at night

 

October 20

Clear and pleasant, relieved from picket at night

 

October 21

Clear and warm, not much going on in camp

 

October 22

Clear and pleasant, not much going on in camp

 

October 23

Clear and pleasant, not much going on in camp

 

October 24

Clear and pleasant, not much going on in camp

 

October 25

On camp guard, clear and pleasant

 

October 26

Went out to the front on the skirmish line in the afternoon, rainy

 

October 27

Cloudy and rainy in the skirmish line in the forenoon, came to camp at night

 

October 28

Clear and warm, the Rebs drove in the cavalry pickets, went out in the afternoon and established the picket line