Description:

12TH WISCONSIN SOLDIER'S DIARY AND DOCUMENT GROUPING
The war-date archive of Pvt. [and prankster!] Cornelius H. Brown of the 12th Wisconsin Light Artillery, including his 1862-1863 diary, two special order assignment documents, a pair of military passes, a descriptive list from Vicksburg, his 1865 "eagle" discharge and numerous pension papers. Brown's diary, about 90pp. 8vo. in paper wraps, begins with his enlistment on Aug. 20, 1862 and continues until May 14, 1863 when it abruptly ends after Brown simply runs out of space. Writing freely, Brown offers vividly detailed accounts of the battles of Luka and Corinth and Grant's Holly Springs campaign, as well as Brown's many unmilitary larks some of which include his helping to trip a Union general with a rope, going AWOL and sending a prank message to Jefferson Davis! The pencil diary, light in places but entirely legible, reads in small part: "…I enlisted in Janes[ville, Wisconsin] on the 20th day of Aug. 1862…[Sept. 19]…was in the battle of Iuka…[Sept. 20]…chased Price all day. Planted our b[attery] in the evening…we climbed up and started for Jacinto [Miss.]…Friday [Oct.3]…struck our tents and started for Corinth…we planted our B. on a hill to the right of the town…the boys were anxious to give the rebels a taste in a short time we recd another order and we went off on double quick towards Corinth and again planted our B. here we threw two shells…[Oct. 4]…at 12:30…we changed our position…we were awakened by heavy cannonading. The rebels were shelling the town and our siege guns were replying…[at] light our infantry engaged the enemy…in front of us…the rebels entered the town fighting desperately…our B…opened fire on them…our lines began to waver. They took the guns of the 6th Wisc. B. but they could not use them as the drivers made good their escape with the ammunition. Now all was confusion…our lines caught the panic…& the rebels rushing…forward to within about 30 yds of our Battery…the 10th Mo. & 56th Ill…on the left…stood their ground like heroes never giving an inch…now came the rebels turn to retreat. They were unable to stand the heavy artillery fire…and turned and fled …the artillery continued to play on them until they had gone over the brow of the hill…[the] infantry pursued but could not overtake…Price's army…after all was quiet…Gen. Sullivan…rode up to our B. and made the following remarks. Boys I am proud of you…the dead in front of your B. shows what you have done…[Oct. 5]…started in pursuit of old man Price…[Oct. 13]…heard today that the rebels rallied three different times to charge on our B…but were every time thrown into confusion…Gen. Sullivan gives us the credit of turning the battle…Grand Junction [Nov. 8]…six of us boys fall back to the rear of our train and got din[ner] at a plantation house…[Nov. 16] had a general inspection and reviewed by Gen. Grant. [Nov. 30]…the 1st Wisc. B. was ordered to go down to the river and shell the woods…they were forced to come back as old Price was behind heavy breast works and forts…[Dec. 2]…we marched to within two miles of the Tallahatchie…[Dec. 3]…got some cotton and made me a fine bed…[Dec. 27]…I went out to look at the town [Holly Springs]…to see what the rebels had destroyed. There were several large buildings burned down…I found several Sibly stoves which was a very good thing…[Jan. 8, 63]…today we are building a fort to plant our guns in but it is raining…[Jan. 20]…troops are passing our camp en route for Vicksburg…[Jan. 27]…ordered to fall in quick…[and] ordered to saddle every horse…and get muskets from the Infantry. There had been a rebel raid on a foraging party killing 2, wounding 2 & took 19 prisoners. The ones killed was mangled up dreadfully…[Feb. 5]…about 9 o'c the boys went out and had a good time snowballing there was 5 or six boys that got their eyes blackened among them was myself…[Feb. 11]…S. P. Davison and myself went to Hd. Qrs…and [with] several other Hd. Qr. Clerks sent a message to the Gov. of South Carolina…[Feb. 12]…proposed to go to Memphis [and] left camp without permission…had a good time…in the…billiard saloon…[Feb.13]…reported to the Capt. he let us off by saying we done wrong etc…the B. was paid for two mos. service and it is reported that we are not legally sworn into the U. S. service…[Feb. 17]…we went in mass before Gen. Quincy he told us he would…have the matter investigated…I think we are citizens and will act as such…[Feb. 28]…went to see Gen. Quincy as Thos. Harrison & myself was down in citizens clothes…[Mar. 1]…we are all loaded on the transports…for Vicksburg…[Mar. 10]…still on the shore. The boys are having a big time…boxing, wrestling and [??] officers. They have a long rope and…trip up every shoulder strap that comes on shore. Gen. Quincy was laid on his back. He got up…and said…boys that was well done…[Mar. 14]…the first Brigade left here…through the Yazoo Pass…[Apr. 2]…some of the boys went on shore to get some chickens…and saw one man…which they did not molest…when the boat was a short distance away…it was fired into and wounded two men…[Apr. 3]…we are about 3 miles from the rebel fort and now & then they throw a shell into us…[Apr. 4]…embarked into again on the Tecumseh…left here for Helena…[Apr. 10]…loaded on board of the steamer Black Hawk…starts for Gen. Grant's Hd. Qrs…[Apr. 18]…after some trouble we got our B. off the boat and got into camp very close to gen. Grant's Hd. Qrs…[Apr. 22]…grand review of our Brigade. Gov. Yates of Illinois was present and made a short speech. The gov. was thrown from his horse…six transports run the blockade…[May 1]…went down 8 miles and landed on the Miss. side. Heavy cannonading in front all day…[May 2]…our advance had a heavy battle…we passed over the battle ground. As usual plenty of men…& horses heaped up in piles. I saw two men (rebels) burned nearly up being in an old house when struck with a shell…[May 3]…some of our men went into the river to bathe and the rebels fired into them killing two and wounding several…[May 10]…we left Milliken's Bend…[May 12]…heavy cannonading in the advance all day. Gen. Logan's Division…surprised by running into a masked battery but finally put the enemy to flight…[May 14]…came upon the enemy's pickets. We drove them within two miles of town…they opened on us with their batteries…the artillery engagement was beautiful…the infantry was called to charge the rebel Bs. They started with a yell. It looked hard to see the poor fellows…on they went regardless of the danger until they put the cowardly rebels to flight, leaving their guns, tents and in fact everything…". Overall very good.

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May 13, 2009 10:00 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

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