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Soldier Later Killed at Gettysburg Great Battle Content Battle Through Fredericksburg
Soldier Later Killed at Gettysburg Great Battle Content Battle Through Fredericksburg
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Description:

Civil War
Washington, DC; Virginia, ca. August - December 1862
Soldier Later Killed at Gettysburg Great Battle Content Battle Through Fredericksburg
Diary/Journal

[CIVIL WAR.] Cyrus M. Hall, Autograph Diary, August-December 1862. 120 pp., 2.5" x 4". Cover missing; some staining to outer pages and edges; interior clean; very good.

This pocket diary includes nearly daily entries of Sergeant Cyrus M. Hall's service in the 17th Maine Volunteer Infantry from August 21, 1862, when he left home, through the last day of the Battle of Fredericksburg, December 15, 1862. He had married Emma Norris two months before he enlisted. She gave birth to their only son in March 1863.

Hall's company of the 17th Maine was originally stationed at Fort Meigs, one of 68 forts that ringed Washington, D.C., during the Civil War. Fort Meigs was on the eastern extremity of the District of Columbia, bordering Maryland to the southeast. Hall was later reassigned to Fort Wagner, a few miles southwest of Fort Meigs. In early October, the 17th Maine left Fort Wagner and moved into Virginia. Late in October, they crossed from Maryland into Virginia at Leesburg and marched south toward Fredericksburg, arriving in that area late in November.

The 17th Maine participated in the Battle of Fredericksburg as part of the 3rd Brigade of the First Division of the III Corps, under the overall command of Brigadier General George Stoneman. The III Corps and the V Corps formed the Center Grand Division under the command of Major General Joseph Hooker.

The diary also includes a hand-drawn map of northern Virginia with major cities and rivers identified. It also includes a recipe for a cure for dysentery.

Excerpts
[August 27, 1862:]
"would give anything to be at home just a few minutes I think a great deal of home"

[September 5:]
"Drilled on the guns all day begin to understand my business We expect an attack all the time from the guerrillas in Maryland our guns are loaded with grape and canister are [?] the cannon all ready at a moment warning we sleep on our arms a part of the time we throw out a strong Picket every night"

[September 8:]
"Went at nine to set Picket they brought in fifteen contrabands the Captain kept two of them for waiters"

[September 13:]
"God only knows what I was made for every thing goes against me almost a week since I got a letter have written almost every day am going to wait now until I hear something from home I believe that I had rather not get any letters than to wait a week after I expect one."
"Captain Martin grows more disagreeable every day he lives shall be glad if divine providence should take him out of our Company he is a disgrace to the company to the Reg and to the church that he belongs to. he swears like a very devil and lies like all [?] He hates me I think and I know that I hate him."
George W. Martin (1836-1909) of Portland was the captain of Company B, 17th Maine Volunteer Infantry. After the war, he was licensed to preach in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He moved to Nebraska in 1882, where he served as pastor of several churches and became a prison reformer.

[September 17:]
"Got two letters from Emma tonight The blues are all gone"

[September 21:]
"We went to prayer meeting this afternoon got a letter this day also a paper feel like going home Oh how I would like to see my darling today"

[September 23:]
"Capt Martin told me to stay in his tent in the night not to remain in the cold. I went in and he sat and told me of all his troubles since he came out here I do not blame him as much as I used to"

[October 7:]
"Struck tents at Fort Wagner at 9 A.M. commenced to march at 10 A.M. ate dinner on Capitol grounds rested until 4 P.M. marched across Long Bridge rested a few then went nearly a mile farther then rested for the night sleeping on the ground with nothing but our blankets around us but we were tired enough to sleep on that without grumbling"

[October 12:]
"The Major says the Rebs are following us well let them come All I think of is my little wife at home God bless her and keep her."

[October 28:]
"Struck tents at 9 A.M. the division went across the river our company came to the Ferry to guard the Pontoon bridge I hear that the whole army is in motion crossing the river above us & Burnsides Division forded the River 9 miles above here the water was 2½ feet deep"

[October 31:]
"Capt Martin was notified of the death of J. C. Walker He died the 24th at the Cliffburne Hospital Washington"
Joseph C. Walker (1834-1862) was a sergeant in Company B of the 17th Maine Volunteer Infantry.

[November 4:]
"Heavy cannonading this morning between Stuarts Cavalry and Genl Pleasanton the Rebels are retreating our camp is only one and ½ miles from Genl McClellans Head Quarters"

[November 15:]
"A Battle going on a short distance from us can see the shells bursting and hear the guns Laid on our arms all day pitched tents and will remain here tonight"

[November 22:]
"Marched to within 3 miles of Fredericksburg a hard march Have a bad cold"

[November 23:]
"It is estimated that there are 100,000 men on the hills this side of the river within 3 miles of Fredericksburg expect an attack will be made today or tomorrow the day passed off quietly"

[December 11:]
"Orders to March at ½ past 5. Our guns commenced shelling the Enemy across the Rappahannock River at 6. AM. We marched at 7 A.M within a mile of Fredericksburg when at 12. M. we are waiting on our arms. The Artillery has kept up a continual firing very heavy Cannonading until night marched into the woods and camped for the night"

[December 13:]
"marched at 5. AM went two miles stopped in the woods near the river cannonading commenced at 10 A.M crossed the river at 11 AM got on the Battlefield at ½ past 11, shot and shell flying thick and fast we were ordered to lie down flat and protect ourselfes as well as possible. The enemy came up the Hill to take the 5 Maine Battery we oppened on them drove them back to their entrenchments in Double Quick time We laid under fire until darkness closed the battle for the night we laid on the bare ground all night"

[December 14:]
"the Rebels did not return fire this morning, with the exception of the Pickets they kept up a steady fire until night the Balls whistled around our heads in fine style we are all out of rations but hope to get some tonight lay on the ground as before"

[December 15:]
"Picket firing all night no one hurt in this Regiment last but 21 men were killed and wounded during the Battle"

Cyrus Melville Hall (1841-1863) was born in Maine. He learned the trade of shoemaking from his father. In June 1862, he married Emma E. Norris (1838-1893), and their son was born in March 1863. On July 10, 1862, he enlisted and was mustered in as a corporal in Company B, 17th Maine Volunteer Infantry in August. He later rose to the rank of sergeant. He was wounded in the head by a shell and killed on July 2, 1863, at the Battle of Gettysburg.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 2.5" x 4"
  • Medium: Diary/Journal

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