Diary
of James W. Carlin
17th
Ohio Volunteer Infantry (3 months service.)
Below is the diary
of James W. Carlin of Mercer County, Ohio who joined the 17th Ohio
Volunteer Infantry (3 months service) in April 1861.
According to Whitelaw Reids Ohio in the War, two companies of
this Regiment came from Fairfield County,
two from
Madison County,
and one each from Perry, Hocking, Morgan, Mercer, Licking, and
Belmont
Counties
. Private
Carlin later enlisted in the 71st OVI and was ultimately promoted to
Major. He was captured by the
Confederates in
Alabama
in October 1864 and spent time at
Andersonville
. Major
Carlin survived the war but died on the Steamship Sultana on April 27, 1865.
Fort Recovery
,
Ohio
April 29th, 1861
Sunday
Volunteered
with Capt. Stone and went as far as
Union City
,
Ind.
Apr. 29th.
Went by railroad from
Union
to
Columbus
to
Camp
Jackson
.
Remained here until
May the 10th 1861
when we left for
Lancaster
.
We went by railroad arriving at
Zanesville
about ? AM.
Remained until about
10 AM
when we changed cars and
proceeded to
Lancaster
in company with a company
of volunteers from
Steubenville
who arrived while we were
waiting.
Arrived
at
Lancaster
about
2 PM
and marched throught the
city to the encampment which is the county fair grounds.
This is called
Camp
Anderson
.
We were here formed into a regiment and examined on the 12th
of May. Had regimental election on
13th of May which resulted in the choice of John M Connell,
Lieut.
Col
; Frank Pond, Major; Clement Steel, Major.
Standing order of camp is revillie at six, horse mounting at
9 AM
, dress parade at
4 PM
, retreat at ? PM.
Interim occupied by company drill.
May 20 -
drew camp utensils and provisions for cooking.
Have now _____ off and do our own cooking.
May 25
had a picnic in camp today by citizens of
Pleasant
Township
.
Rather a grand affair.
Thursday
June the 1st had another picnic today.
The weather is bad and somewhat interferes with the picnic.
June the
8th received new muskets and cartridge boxes & ____ today.
Friday June 14, 1861
left
Camp
Anderson
about
11 AM
and arrived at
Camp
Goddard
near
Zanesville
about
4 PM
.
Sunday
June 16th left
Camp
Goddard
for Bellair at about
5 AM
and arrived at Bellair at
12 and crossed to
Benwood
Va
. . At half past
one PM
.
Sherrod Clemmens, John Carlisle, ___ welcomed us to the shores and soil
of
Va.
June 19th
left Benwood at
10 AM
on board Com. Rauntz fleet
and arrived at
Marietta
about dark
June 20th
left
Marietta
at
5 PM
and arrived at
Parkersburg
Va.
About
8 oclock
.
We remained here until the 25th when we left by railroad for
Petroleum in Richie County, Va. Four
companies of our Regiment here. We
remained under arms until morning.
June 26th
we marched from here on foot to
Hughes
River
at which place we pitched
our tents for the night having marched about six miles.
June 27th
we marched 3 miles today and again camped on
Hughes
River
.
This camp we called
Camp
Connell
.
We _____ in an orchard and the owner is a secessionist by the name of
Jackson
. Here we remained for two
days during which time ____ was several times alarmed by the pickets being fired
upon. While out on a scouting party
on the 28th, I captured a secessionist flag.
June 29th
Left Camp Connell marched 15 miles and camped at Webb Mills.
This part of the country in possession of the Union Home Guards so we
found the Stars and Stripes floating on the breeze.
We remained here over Sunday and on Monday the 1st of July we
marched 12 miles and camped at the farm of Mr. Wagner.
Tuesday
July 2nd We marched about 15 miles to the
Glenville Road
where we pitched our tents,
made dinner and rested until night when
Co.
I and Lieut. Col. Pond and
some other men started for Glenville where the rebels were reported to be about
_____. It was near
midnight
when we started for
Glenville over a mountainous road. Fretfully
strange to all except a few of the natives who had been driven from their homes
and were now returning with us. We
pushed bravely on and arrived at Glenville about daylight without the
transpiration of anything worth note except the capture of a couple of
secessionists. We found the nests
but the birds had flown. The
cowardly rebels though occupying a strong position had given it up to us without
a struggle. We took posession of the
Courthouse in the morning of the ____ ____ and before the sundowned upon us I
had with my own hands nailed the Stars and Stripes upon the cupola of the
Courthouse.
The
remaining three companies came in early on the third having marched so as to
suport us in case of an attack.
July 4th
The glorious 4th seems as bright as if no civil strife distracted
the country. Gilmer is the name of
this county. Glenville is ____
miles from the last camp. We paraded
at four PM after which we listened to the reading of the Declaration of
Independence and speeches from Dr. Harris, Col. Pond, Capt. Stone, and others.
Ladies and some of the soldiers then sang the Star Spangled Banner with
much spirit. So passed the fourth of
July in 1861 in a place a few days ago fully in the possession of the
acknowledged foes of our free intentions.
Saturday
July 6th One of our picket posts was fired at today.
No one hurt however.
Sunday
the 7th 1861 This morning our picket posts on the
Charleston
road was attached by the
enemy and driven in without loss to us. The
enemy appeared in force on the
Charleston Road
and flanked to the left so
as to completely surround us on the approachable side of our position.
They thus continued only moving small detachments for the purpose of
drawing us from our position. They
also kept up a firing all day and at night under cover of a heavy fog they
attempted to force our line of pickets
but were repulsed at every point.
Monday July the 8th,
1861
The rebel forces have
withdrawn their ____ with a reported loss of about 30 men.
Tuesday
July the 9th Reinforcements from the 18th OVI came to
our relief.
10th
We left this place and marched 11 miles to Staunton Pike.
July 11th
Marched to Weston Lewis Co. Virginia west fork of the Monongahela.
Distance from last camp 12 miles.
July 12th
We marched to Buckhannon the County seat of Upshur Co.
Sunday
July 15th 1861
Started with four men
of our company with Capt. ?
At this point, the
writing is badly faded for about a page and not legible
Friday (August) 3
marched 16 miles to camp at
Jacksonville
Aug 4
marched to Weston 15 miles. Rested
until
noon
next day
The last
four lines of the diary are not legible. According
to Whitelaw Reid, the 17th OVI, having overserved its 3 month
enlistment by several days, started for home on August
3, 1861arriving in Zanesville on August 13, 1861
Copy of diary
provided by Gary Price (James Carlin family member)
Transcribed
by Martin Stewart Troy, Ohio
2005
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