Lot 612
CIVIL WAR DIARY OF JAMES M. WEEKS, JR., 18TH CT VOLS.
1864-64 Civil War diary of Pvt. James M. Weeks, Jr., 18th Ct. Infantry. Weeks was a P.O.W., captured at Winchester, and was K.I.A. at Piedmont on June 5, 1864. Diary has 42pp., all entries from Martinsburg, VA., in part: "Aug. 23 Left camp...marched thru Norwich and boarded the steamboat "City of Boston" for N.Y...Took cars thru N.J., crossed the Deleware and thru PA. in MD., arrived in Baltimore at 12 o'c...marched to Fort McHenry; stayed there in tents until about 6 o'c; marched into Baltimore. Quartered in the depot...Oct. 2, 1863 Landed in Matinsburg and ...went into camp on west side of town...Oct. 5, 1863 Drilled in the morning. Bayonet exercise for the first time...Oct. 18-19, 1863 Battle fought at Charleston, VA. and a victory. The paroled prisoners left for Williamsport. Was ordered back after 8 miles marching. Stayed in barn one night 3 1/2 miles from town. Startled with artillery fire beside us. Rained in morning; later all quiet along the lines...Nov. 4-5, 1863 Bayonet drill in the morning...under marching orders. Orders countermanded..Nov. 10, 1863...Packed knapsacks and marched downtown to relieve Co. E, 18th C.V. to do provost guard duty...Nov. 18, 1863 Scouting party came in with prisoners, horses and carriages...Jan. 1-2, 1864 Great military excitement. Was drawn up in line of battle...expected battle...scouting parties went to Winchester...More excitement; scouts went out from Martinsburg and Harpers Ferry down the valley...Jan. 31, 1864 On guard. Gen. Avril's forces went up to the valley on scout with 3 regiments of mounted infantry and 3 pieces of artillery...Feb. 7, 1864 Gen. Avril's forces returned from the valley with some loss of men...Feb. 22, 1864 Washingtons birthday was celebrated by battery, which fired 4 guns and in evening fired rockets. 3rd & 4th P.V. paraded in town and played their brass band...Feb. 25, 1864 Was on guard. Corporal shot one of his own men in evening and was placed in Martinsburg jail in the stone cell for trial. Scouting party went up the valley today 1st CT, 123rd O.V.I. and battery. Pickets was drove in by Rebs...Reb deserters came in evening...Feb. 29, 1864 Negro was arrested for murdering and robbing a soldier, but would make his escape...Mar. 7, 1864 (Boliver Heights) Ordered from Martinsburg; packed knapsacks about 7 o'c and went out and stacked arms in main street Martinsburg and got on board platform cars about 8 and started for place unknown and landed in Harpers Ferry where 5 companies of us was ordered to Boliver Hts. I went to guard Rebs and federal prisoners...". The diary entries end here, but it is for certain that Weeks had the diary with him when captured and paroled as there is a list in the back of the diary for clothing drawn at Camp Parole. Lists in the back of the diary include clothing drawn at Camp Parole, Annapolis, MD., Clothing drawn at Martinsburg, letters received, letters written, and expenses paid. There is also a drawing in pencil of a building on the last page. The 18th CT. also saw action at both Winchester, VA., and Piedmont, VA, where they sustained heavy losses. The diary has a few loose pages, overall fine.
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