NF Union Soldier Diary Recommendations

[rbortega]

Does anybody have any good recommendations for a journal/diary of a Union soldier who participated in battles and campaigns in the Western theater of the Civil War? I am particularly interested in first hand accounts of Union soldiers during the Vicksburg campaign.

 

[Ole Miss]

I would recommend you might like to read the diary of James Hammegan who served with the 5th Ohio Cavalry. I have read parts and think you might be able to answer some questions after reading his work.
Through the courtesy of @lupaglupa I can share his service record below:
Enlisted 9/28/1861 as a corporal, age 23
Mustered out 11/18/1864
Promoted 2nd Lt. 5/2/1863
Promoted 1st Lt. 5/9/1864
Transferred from Co. D to Field and Staff 5/2/1863
I am sure the folks at Gilder Lehrman will be helpful
Regards
David


The Gilder Lehrman
https://www.gilderlehrman.org/collection/glc0412901

 

[LSBusch]

My g-g-g-grandfather's diary covers his time in camp in Columbus, Kentucky, the last half of 1863. He mentions Vicksburg but was not there. I have published the diary with a history of his fighting in 1864. His regiment, the 14th Iowa, took part in the Meridian campaign and fought at Fort DeRussy, Pleasant Hill, Tupelo, and Pilot Knob. Not Till Then Can the World Know: Replacement Companies in the Trans-Mississippi, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0868DMWSS/?tag=civilwartalkc-20 .

 

[Sid J.]

Does anybody have any good recommendations for a journal/diary of a Union soldier who participated in battles and campaigns in the Western theater of the Civil War? I am particularly interested in first hand accounts of Union soldiers during the Vicksburg campaign.

Here are some that I have read. Not strictly diaries, but letters and post war writings.

Your True Marcus: The Civil War Letters of a Jewish Colonel. Edited by Frank L. Byrne and JEan Powers Soman. Kent State University Press.

This is a collection of letters written by Col. Marcus Speigel of the 120th OVI. Present for Chickasaw Bayou through the May battles and wounded on July 12th near Jackson.

Tom Taylor's Civil War edited by Albert Castel, Univ of Kansas Press 2000

Major 47th OVI, present for the siege.

Leander Stillwell: The Story of a Common Soldier

Lt 61st IL. Present for the siege

Infantryman Petit: The Civil War Letters of Corporal Frederick Petit.

Pvt. 100th PA. With IX Corps for the siege.

I know I have a few others, let me check up on that.

 

[Sid J.]

Civil War Diary by James Black, has an entry for almost every day 1862-65. Not at Vicksburg for the battle or the siege, but at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Little Rock, Meridian and Red River.