[ Autographs ] YANKEECAVALRYMAN AND PRISONER OF WAR DIARIES A fine collection of three diaries of Private Ira L. Stockbridge, covering the years 1863 through 1865. Initially enlisting in the 1st R.I. Cavalry, Stockbridge was transferred into the 1st N.H. Cavalry in January, 1864. Stockbridge was not a lucky man, for as his diaries record he was taken prisoner twice, and was once trapped for a number of days behind enemy lines. Stockbridge's experiences were duly recorded in his daily entries, a sample of which follows: "...Feb. 25,1863...the rebels was firing along the line, charged on our reserve, took 15 of our boys, had 2 men killed, formed for fight but they did not come...Mar. 18 [Kelly's Ford]...F.J. Tilton...had horse shot, 42 more killed, wounded and missing...May 18...[Jeb] Stuart is within 4 miles, saw signal light at 3 in the morning, firing at bushwackers in morning, battery came back in a hurry...June 9 [Brandy Station] crossed the river at Kelly's Ford and rode out as skirmishers, and advanced. Found the enemy, charged, came back crossed at Beverly Ford..had a hard fight...June 17...Met the enemy...West of Middleburg, was on picket...the rebels charged through the farm, we retreated and lay in a piece of woods...June 18....was surrounded by rebels. They charged, I was taken prisoner...June 26...arrived in Libby prison .. drawed a quarter of a loaf of bread...June 27...Came from Libby Prisonto Belle Island, a man took our names, where captured...we have no tent, are on the side of an entrenchment and lie on the ground...July 22...Some 700 men came in. We are called out, went and stayed in a warehouse near Libby Prison, are very tired , weak, and hungry, but are glad to get away...July 24...arrived in Annapolis...washed and feel like a new man...Sept. 27...Lt. Pratt put in command of us read an order that we were exchanged, said we are to be equipped and sent to our regiment...Oct. 12...Went to Sulphur Springs, there was fighting there...was fired into and lost my horse, lay down for the night. After I come in hearing of the pickets...Oct. 13...The pickets are relieved and I see they are rebels...at dark I started West near where they was encamped...May 15...at night march, go to where I see alight, find Nigars are up with some hogs, was near some town, could hear town clock...Oct. 19...the rebels are here...there is skirmishingalong the creek, a captain of the regulars drove the rebels and puts Picket on. I called for him to come...took me to Gen. Merritt's Headquarters. I get some meat and bread to eat...Nov. 15 ...two deserters have their head shaved and the letter "D" branded on the left hip, and marched the length of the brigade...Music by the Mass band...June 13, 1864...in line, advance at daylight, find the enemy, skirmish them all day...at 6 o'clock they charge us....we fell back , march most all night, about 25 killed and wounded...June 23...Quite a fight at Nottoway Court house...some of our boys are wounded, lay in line of battle all night - burn bridges, railroad and everything... Captured trains and burned...June 28...fought the rebels at Stony Creek all night, we move up and dismount near the skirmish line, have a hard fight...Aug. 25...saddle up, at 5 o'clock had a hard fight at Strasbough Pike...had 15 wounded and killed in our regiment, are droveback to Harper's Ferry...Sept. 19[Winchester]...find the enemy at daylight...take Winchester, heavy cannonading all day...the 6 and 15 corps are doing most of the fighting...I get hit in the head by a spent ball...Sept. 21...find the enemy at the river...charge, we follow them through the town, advance to Peter's Gap, find the rebel in force...quite a skirmish, the rebels are behind breastwork...Sept. 22...we have the advance, drive the rebels to Bridge's Mills...Sept. 28, 1864...skirmishing, we go out and support battery, we fell back toStanton, I am taken prisoner 3 miles from Waynesboro...Oct. 16...Capt.Davis of the 145th N.Y. shot by a sentry...Oct. 18-19...Clares of 8th Corps in the dead house...350 more prisoners come from Danville, 1 manshot by sentry, 1st Penn. Rifles...Nov. 25 ...there was a break made by the prisoners, 58 wounded, 15 killed, none get away...Jan. 1, 1865..a prisoner of war at Salisbury, N.C....Feb. 27...arrive at the river with a flag of truce, are passed in to our lines, go one mile and get whiskey, bread, meat, coffee,.... etc.". Groupings of several diaries of the same soldier such as this are becoming increasingly difficult to find, particularly when well kept, with continued daily entries andno gaps. Some soiling and wear to the covers, as one would expect, with a few of the pencil entries difficult to read, otherwise good to very good. Also included is a nineteenth century book telling the history of the regiment which lists private Stockbridge as a member of Co. J.