Beschreibung:

Lot of 2 diaries. Leather pocket notebook, 3 x 6 in., with flap, wallet pocket in back cover, identified to Charles T.S. Pierce, 5th NY Cavalry. The notebook contains entries made in pencil, some from mid-August 1863, a section that appears to be personal lists of correspondents, books, etc., and a Roll of Co. G, 5th NY Cavalry. The military diary begins May 6, 1864 and goes through July 1 (bottom of page notes "other book," which unfortunately is not present). Pages dating from August 10-13, 1863 are missing. Others are loose but present. A number of pages have smeared text. Although the notebook only contains a couple months of entries from Pierce, they are very detailed and descriptive. May 6, for example: "7:00 AM Canonading commenced this morning at about 5. Gen. Burnside's fore came up this morn and marched directly to the front. 1500 Rebels taken May 5th and this morning two Regiments were taken by surprise and captured. The 109th NYSV [New York State Volunteers] came in with Burnside this AM. 9:30 Heavy musketry firing continuously together with artillery. The Brigade of Rebs were taken prisoner. 10.00: 104 Prisoners taken on the left wing. firing ceased 10.30. the 6th Corps broke and run, were Rallied at Wilderness Church and taken in again. Firing commenced again at 11.00 lasting till 11.40 ceased till 4.45 except one in a while as little and slight skirmishing 4.55 PM Heavy firing commenced again hard fighting ensued several charges made the Prisoners sent in of yesterdays fight amount to 9100 6.15 Charging on the right flank our forces driven back. The wagon train moved back - and artillery forward. Our cavalry was ordered up to stop the men from running back 7.00 All quiet." May 9: "Gen Sedgwick was killed today. Gen Hooker lost 700 men prisoners & took 1100. Made an exchange of prisoners, 1000 Rebs for 700 Union men ... 18 Penna. Va. made a charge on Spottsylvaina and took 1500 Prisoners." May 13: "Staid on the Chancellorville battle ground all night. Gen Grant reported have taken 3 Big Gens. of the Rebs & one Maj." May 21: "at 8.45 AM went thro the town and countermarched west toward the Milford R.Road Station and soon came in contact with the Rebs. After a sharp fight of 1 1/2 hours we drove them from the station with but little loss on our side. from our Co. one John Vandermark. we lived pretty well on the fat of the village .... 6.20 PM crossed the Massapanax River flanking the enemy. 11.00 PM We (our Co. & H) are ordered to go over to Gen. Meades H'd Qr's with dispatches met Mosby on the way but we shunned him as best we could after a short fight & arrived at Station at 4.25 AM." On May 22, he moved to Bethel Church, referencing nearly continual fighting every day. On June 2, the regiment is sent as escort to an ambulance train, advancing to Salem Church the following day, with a few "quiet" days on the 9th and 10th. June 11: "Reveille at 2.25 AM orders to pack up everything. whole Brig went out together with the Artillery and engaged Longstreets Corp driving them back and hold the position till the Infantry comes up..." June 18: "Start at 8.15 AM after breakfast back to Prince George Ct. House at Blackwater on Picket...Heavy canonading and musketry on our right in the direction of Petersburg." June 21: "Hard fighting in direction of Petersburg. Rec'd orders at Regimental H'd Q'rs to be ready to start tomorrow - rations dealt out for five days for men and two for horses- considerable bustle in camp preparing." June 29: "At 3:10 this AM hard fighting commences again...Gen. Wilson's com'd hold then at bay while the ambulances and baggage/supply train pass on ahead toward Reams Station during the fight of this AM the most of the 2d Brigade were in the fight dismounted and were captured by the enemy. after going to within 2 1/2 m. of Reams S. we engage the foe again. They open on the advance guard from a musket battery -with canister - we advance more on their works - but find they have Infantry & Cavalry in ove