Text set / Henry O. Nightingale diary, 1864

Viewing item 31 of 213. Back to summary Jump to last item

Poor Richard's reasons for buying United States' securities [16]

Enclosure: "My Bible"; "Evening brings us home" [17]

Get Citation

Have a question about this item?

Contact Owner

Item information. Go to summary information.

Title: Facing pages [38-39]
Date Created and/or Issued: 18640207-18640208
Rights Information
Rights Holder and Contact
Rights Notes
Format: image
Identifier
Transcription: Early this morning started with Lieut. Shields from Div. headquarters. Arrived there and saw him safely in Mrs. Gen. [Hays] [illegible]. Saving all most all day. In the Evening found Gen. [Hays] news of a friend being killed by piece of shell. In the fornoon the Dr. received the [same]. [& then] [they] seemed glad to have us retreat. Our losses about 300 killed and wounded. The Gen. [had] 2 horses shot. Chap. Barry, Dr. [Drewy] .50 ct. Issac Tholm .. boots 3.00 [written above date:] Hd. Qs. 3d Div. 2nd Corps. Started today for my new duty as [mail ag] and I [illegible] bid the doctor good bye. He has been a true friend. All is quiet today along the [illegible] march of the troops are marching back to their [illegible] [and camp] one Brigade [will have to remain] in [case] the enemy attempts to cross. Friendly letter from Cousin Judie. ----------------------------- Feb. 7, Sunday. Early this morning started with Lt. Shields for Div. HdQrs, arrived there and saw him safely in Mrs. Gen. Hays care. Rainy almost all day, in the evening quiet. Gen.Hays narrow escape from being killed by a piece of shell in the forenoon as the Div. recrossed the river, the enemy seemed glad to hear us retreat, our loss is almost 300 killed and wounded. The gen. had two horses shot. [2.] [Here he begins a series of lists with which he will fill later pages of his diary, it would appear that despite his illness, he was running some sort of business enterprise.] Chas. Barry, Dr. Drury(?) -50 cts. Isaac Thorn –books- $3.00 [3.] Feb. 8, Monday. HdQrs 3rd Div.2nd Corps. Started to day for my new duty as mail agent, 2nd Div. Bid the doctor good-bye, he has been a true friend. All is quiet today along the Rapidan, most of the troops are marching back to their former camps. One brigade will have to remain in case the enemy attempt to cross. Friendly letter from cousin Judie. Note: 2. The fight at Morton’s Ford Va. on Feb.6-7,1864 was initiated by a harebrained scheme of Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler (1818-1893) to take Richmond and /or free Union prisoners held there in Libby Prison. The army of the Potomac, mainly the 2nd Corps, was to provide a diversion at the ford while Butler took Richmond. The result was a disaster for the Union troops of the 2nd Corps. For a more detailed account see Crooks’ Rochester’s Forgotten Regiment, pp.176-186 on line at NYSMM. Lt. Col. Francis E. Pierce of the 108th NY was hit in the left eye, the ball lodged behind the eye causing it to bulge out “like a hen’s egg”. Pierce lost sight in the eye but did return to duty for the Overland Campaign. Lt. David Shields (63rd PA), aide to Hays was shot in the chest with the bullet exiting through the back. He was also shot in the right foot, losing the top of his middle toe. Mrs. Hays in a letter to her mother mentions meeting Shields on his way to division HdQrs. She identifies Nightingale as an “orderly”. Col. Jonathon H. Lockwood of the 7th West Va. Was shot in the shoulder. Col. Franklin Sawyer of the 8th Ohio was stuck on the right wrist with a bullet that first passed through and tore open his haversack. Gen. Hays’s narrow escape occurred when a rebel bullet pierced his trousers and buried itself in his saddle. 3. Charles W. Barry, 29 yrs, pvt. Co. B. 108th NY Isaac Thorn, 32 yrs, pvt. Co. H, 108th NY. Crooks, Terence G. “Transcribed and Annotated Diaries of Henry Oliver Nightingale.” Unpublished manuscript, 2014. Microsoft Word file.
Parent Item: Henry O. Nightingale diary, 1864
Contributing Institution: UC Merced, Library and Special Collections
Collection: Henry O. Nightingale diaries

About the collections in Calisphere

Learn more about the collections in Calisphere. View our statement on digital primary resources.

Copyright, permissions, and use

If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.

Share your story

Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.