The Journal of Edgar Noble
Original Pocket Diary 1863
Edgar Noble's journal has been recovered from the attic of the grandparents of Tom Spain. Tom has given me permission to published a transcript translated by George Wilkinson on the 4th Michigan website.
Photographs of the Edgar Noble Diary 4th Michigan Co. K
(not for publishing , strictly for authentication purposes)
Original Pocket Diary 1863
Sergeant E. Noble, Co. K, 4th Michigan Volunteers
Saturday, January 10, 1863
Falmouth Va
Monday (January)12,
Kellys Ford Va
Friday, (March) 13 Gould and I made a visit to Berdans 1st Regt Sharp Shooters took our Grub with us found them as we expected a set of thiefs they made an attempt to steal our ove(r)coats but we prevented it
Wednesday (April) 8
Dover
Saturday, April 25,1863
returned to the regiment to day found the boys all right with orders to march with eight days rations
Sunday (April) 26
to day the Regt has gone on picket I was left in camp have writen 7 letters expect to march tonight
Monday (April)27
Broke Camp near Falmouth marched in the direction of the River encamped near the Brick church in a large field
Tuesday, April 28,1863
Took up our line of march at twelve o’clock PM march 15 miles and encamped for the night rained all day
Wednesday (April) 29
Crossed the Rappahannock and Rapidan captured 160 Prisnors rained. rained hard all day encamped near the Rapidan River rained all night
Thursday (April) 30
Started at 8 oclock rained in the fournoon marched to Chanclierville stopped two hours then advanced two miles fell back to the corners and encamped for the night
Friday, May 1, 1863
broke camp at 10 went eight miles to the fords and returned marched Backwards and forwards all night in line of Battle with flankers thrown out
Saturday (May) 2
stayed all night where we encamp for the night threw up Breast works to protect us from the fire of the enemy
Sunday (May) 3
Laid in line of Battle all day heavy fighting in the forenoon and most all night 11 and 12 Corps fell back one mile
Monday, May 4, 1863
were sent out to try the streanth of the rebs advanced nearly one mile found the rebs in forse and fell back had 1 killed and 11 wound
Tuesday (May) 5
was actacted twice by the rebs but repulsed them both times rain commenced to Fall at dark rained all night
Wednesday (May) 6
started at three o clock marched to United States ford returned and acted as rear guard reached the old camp at three oclock rained all day
Thursday, May 7,1863
the old camp looks rather gloomy this morning have no rations only what we pick up many of the (men) are sick it is still raining
Monday (May) 11
to day Bill Smith made some Hoe cake and it was good but rather hevy he thinks it will stick to the ribs well
Tuesday, May 19,1863
our Corps was reviewed to day by General Mead the weather vary warm and dusty
Wednesday (May) 20
Left Camp at 9 O clock went on picket took three days rations with us the weather vary warm and plesant recevved a letter from L N
Thursday (May) 21
Weather warm and pleasent are on the reserve to day receved a letter from Alex Crane also a paper from an unknown friend
Friday, May 22,1863
were relieved this morning and returned to camp a little the worse for wear recieved a letter from L N to day
Thursday, May 28,1863
we received orders at noon to be ready to march at a moments notice with three days rations did not start until there o clock marched 10 miles and encamped for the night were paid to day for two months
Friday (May) 29
started at 7 O clock march 16 miles camped at Kellys ford the weather vary hot
Saturday (May) 30
went to the river this morning and had a good swim saw some of our secesh friends on the other side weather pleasant
Sunday, May 31,1863
went on picket went abut there miles to a ford on the rappahannock found our secesh friends quite friendly had some fish and strawberies for dinner
Monday, June 1
are still on picket went down the river this morning and destroyed a boat belonging to the rebs the weather warm and pleasent exchanged papers with the rebs to day were relieved and returned to camp
Tuesday (June) 2
weather warm heard to day that Grant had been defeated some of our pickets were taken last night by the rebs
Wednesday, June 3,1863
weather plasent warm remained in camp all day done some washing went over to Battery D to visit a friend in the evening L N
Thursday (June) 4
weather vary hot thunder storm at night remained in camp all day A R L E L X
Friday (June) 5
vary pleasent remained in Camp all day have orders to be ready to march at a moments notice J R
Saturday, June 6,1863
went on picket took one day rations vary pleasent in the morning rained in the afternoon heard to day that Fredericksburg was evacuated and that Grant had taken Vicksburg McLean Field officer of the day
Sunday (June) 7
was relieved this morning by the 62 PV returneded to camp got in about 9 o clock recd a letter from L N A B & L E today had meeting to day
Monday (June) 8
remained in camp all day some of cavalry crossed the river to day
Tuesday, June 9,1863
more troops crossed the Rappahannock this morning hard fighting all day Cavlary and artilery engaged all returned to camp to day loss said to be heavy on both sides
Wednesday (June) 10
went on picket to day releived the 62nd PV wather fine I crossed the river to day and had a chat with the sesesh pickets found them vary friendly
Thursday (June) 11
are still on picket rained this morning had some steambers for breakfast
Friday, June 12,1863
on picket yet heavy cannonading up the river this morning some of Hookers scoutts (c)roossed the river to day weather warm
Saturday (June) 13
were relieved to day by the 63 got orders to march soon after we got to camp started at dark march 7 miles and encamped for the night
Sunday (June) 14
broke camp at noon marched 16 miles and encamped for the night near the railroad
Monday, June 15,1863
broke camp at daylight marched to mannassus junction encamped for the night some of our men were sun struck and died heard today that Lee had crossed into maryland
Tuesday (June) 16
went on picket in the afternoon staid (t)ill three o clock in the morning
Wednesday (June) 17
broke camp at 9 o clock reached centerville at noon awful hot men die by the road side reached Ennis Springs about sundown and camp for the night fight at middletown to day
Thursday, June 18,1863
weather hot thunder shower at night remained at Ennis Springs all day done washing to day hear that Lee is in PA
Friday (June) 19
Cunningham and I went out on pass returned at 5 o clock Regt had Left us gone to Alldee we went about three miles and staid all night with Miss Mary Cross rained all night
Saturday (June) 20
Came up with the Regt this morning at Alldee remained at this place all day
Sunday, June 21,1863
got orders to march at three o clock marched 7 miles passed through Middleburg and stoped in a field near the Battle Field remained all day. at night went on picket about one mile hard fighting all day 16th Mich take a Battery
Monday (June) 22
cavelry fall back we got orders to fall back about noon rebes follow us for two hours fell back as far as dover remain on picket all night
Tuesday (June) 23
returned to our old Camp near Aldee this morning drew two days rations remained in Camp until night then went on picket about three miles
Wednesday, June 24,1863
were relieved from picket and returned to camp sent mail this morning the first in 11 days fixed my tent and done some washing to day
Thursday (June) 25
weather pleasent all quiet along the lines to day drew two days rations wrote two letters
Friday (June) 26
broke camp at 7 O clock crossed the Potomac at Edwards ferry went three miles and encamped for the night rained all day
Saturday, June 27,1863
broke camp at 6 oclock marched 13 miles rained all day encamped for the night near Frederick city
Sunday (June) 28
weather pleasent remained in camp all day done some washing received mail went on picket at dark
Monday (June) 29
broke camp at 7 O clock marched sixteen miles passed
through Union town encamped for the night near Liberty
Tuesday, June 30,1863
broke Camp at daylight marched 35 miles and encamped for the night near Union Mills rained in the fornoon
Wednesday (July) 1
weather rainy marched to Hanover remained two hours marched to Oxford and encamped for the night
|
Thursday (July) 2 marched to Gettsbued remained in line of Battle untill three O clock we then sent to the front Cost heavy Cornle killed Mc Lene wounded |
Friday (July) 3
went with the Capt to the Hospital near the Battle field remained till three o clock then went to Middletown Hard fighting all day
Friday Dec 4
Mountain R(ose) ??
Cash Account Jan
Belt Plains
Cash Account July
Monroes Farm
Cash Account September
Penine E
Purdy H
Bird C
Hughes F
Goodenburger D
Gauntlett G
Moore (?) I (?)
Houghton K
Day B
Cash Acct November Left Side
Centreville
Cash Acct November Right Side
Ok give me but one hour more the dieng soldier said
Cash Account December Left
Peter Gahagan
debt / to cash 100
Memorandum
Dec 20 South Carolina declares herself out of the union by a unanimous vote
Dec 26 Major anderson evacuates Fort moultrie and takes possession of Fort Sumpter
Dec 28 south carrolina troops
(unable to transcribe)
Memorandum
Battle of chickhomney Fought May 24
Battle of Hanover Fought May 27th
Battle of Meckanicksville June 26
Battle of Gaines Farm June 27th
Battle of White oak swamp June 27th
Battle of Malvern Hill July 1st
Battle of antietam Fought sept 17th
Battle of Fredericksburg fought Dec 12 14th 15th
Memorandum
R.G. Graham 183 Norman st N.y. city (this might be an address for Robert Graham of the Fourth Mich. who enlisted on June 21st,1864 in Jackson, Mich. and then deserted)
Owosso City Mich.
Ticket Office Pa Central R.R.
Cor 6th st. + Pa. Avenue
(unable to transcribe)
Memorandum
Cambell Hospital Ward 7 Washington D.C.
St. Lawrance Jefforson Co. N.Y.
Clarance Centre N.Y.
Newstead Era Co N.Y.
General Hospital Island
Memorandum
Baily
Brogan
Barnes
Billson
Drew
Gould
Harris
Kellog
Moodie
Feb 28 Peter Gahagan debt to cash 100
Stamps
Sherry 2
Cunningham 1
Bailey
Gould 1
Carpenter
Foster 5
Back cover
Thomas Sherry (across top of page upright)
Edgar Noble
Howell Home 4th Mich Volls (vertically across left side of cover )
William Noble
John Logan
123 PV Volls (vertically across right side of cover)
Thomas