[ Autographs ] FOUR-YEAR MISSOURI CONFEDERATE DIARY An most uncommon,detailed, and complete Confederate soldier's diary, kept by A.W. Simpson of Sentinel Prairie, Mo., 5th Mo. Infantry, with daily entries from Feb. 12, 1862 until August 6 of 1865. Simpson participated in 8 major battles and over 60 skirmishes, including Corinth, Iuka, Jackson Kennesaw Mountain, Franklin, and Spanish Fort, where he surrendered. Because of the length of the diary, we can only provide a representative sample of some of the entries giving the reader some sense of its flavor. In part: "...Mar. 7, 1862 [Pea Ridge or Elkhorn Tavern] Van Dorn & Price upon the North and McColloch upon the West. Before the constant belching of our cannon they were compelled to fallback but Alas! while we were whipping them on the North Gen McColluch & McIntosh were killed on the West. Price whipped them back all the day...on the morning of the 8th we were called up in line and the heavy cannonading commenced...according to the order of Van Dorn we commenced our retreat South, soldiers cursing Van Dorn generally...May9 [Corinth] Went out and routed a portion of the Federal Army. Lt. J.R Mitchell received a severe wound...May 22...had no fight on the rightwing, but had considerable on the left...May 28 [Corinth]...Ordered out for battle -10 o'clock A.M. Considerable firing on the left and center, Price's division being on the right...May 30...Made a retreat from Corinth...Yankees...burned our baggage .Boys as mad as grizzly bears...Sept. 19, 1862 [Iuka], enemy came in near town where there wasone of the hardest fights imaginable, quite a number killed on both sides and many wounded...Apr. 26, 1863...Made an attack on Cape Girardeau [Mo.], fought them slightly for two or three hours when Gen.Marmaduke drew off his forces...camped at Jackson [Mo.] enemy made an attack after night, captured some 50 men and 65 horses...Apr. 30...MetJeff Thompson at 1 P.M. with some three or five hundred men. Formed a line of battle...May 1...Crossed St .Francis River on a raft made of logs & rails and swam the horses...May. 9...A.W. had to leave the company of a very nice girl, Miss Jo., one that treated him with greatkindness...A.W. got to sleep but little and he knows the reason...June23...went to Jackson [Ms.]...Mrs. Williams dressed in men's clothes ( Lt.'s uniform), caused much laughter and side talk...July 12, 1863... heavy skirmishing until 8 A.M. when the skirmishers withdrew and the yanks shelled the city for two hours...at 10 A.M. they made a charge on our left and were repulsed with heavy loss...May 28, 1864 [Georgia]Just before day Mo. Brig...took a place hard to hold, enemy close up[ behind heavy woods. Heavy skirmishing, some few killed and wounded. The occasional fall of a comrade caused sad countenances for a few minutes, but all are soon as lively & gay as ever. Heavy fighting kept up during the night..." From May 28 to July 4,1864 the diary records continual skirmishing, with the central battle taking place at Kennesaw Mountain: "...June 27...Enemy made a charge on our works at Kennesaw & other points and handsomely repulsed with great loss. Co. F lost two wounded, Sergt. Patterson severe wound in side and Thomas Wells lost right arm at shoulder. 3 and 5 regts. killed andwounded thirty two...July 22...After falling back to Atlanta went up to throwing works at daylight, heavy fighting on right. Many Yanks captured, also artillery, wagons and ambulances...Sept. 1, 1864... Heavy engagement on left, rebs considerably worsted. At dark evacuatedAtlanta, destroying guns & ammunition. Marched very slow all night... Oct. 5...made an attack on Allatoona...had a hard & bloody fight, tookthe first line of works, but failed to take the second & last & withdrew at 3 P.M....Nov. 30, 1864 [Franklin] Just before sundown formed & made an attack upon their works. The grandest move ever witnessed. More gallantry was never displayed but the works being strong and the forces concentrated the rebels were repulsed with a loss of two thirds killed and wounded - mostly killed. Co. F went intoaction with 18 muskets and came out with 8. Capt. Hale & 4 others killed & 6 wounded. No harder fought battle was ever recorded...". Thediary continues until after the war's end, covering the surrender of Simpson and his time as a prisoner, ending with his being reunited with his family on August 9th of 1865. Such detailed Confederate diaries of such a lengthy period of time, especially from a Missouri unit, are rare! Furthermore, the diary comes with a complete transcription, along with copies of Simpson's service records and copies of many related documents. Some pages loose in binding, otherwise very good condition.