Civil War Diary Of William S. Hotchkiss Excellent diary of William S Hotchkiss of the 1st regt N. Y. Engineers about 120 pages in pencil covering the period Sep. 15 1864 to May 17 1865 This fine account Hotchkiss' service under Grant during the siege of Petersburg tells of his advance in pursuit of Lee right up to Appomattox, and his return through a conquered Richmond A great deal of detail describing battle on a daily basis: had taken three of the Petersburg batteries rebels opened on our line with shell Rebels charged on our works four times but were repulsed each time shot through the heart by a Rebel sharpshooter captured 16 or 1 7 guns the Rebels gobbled up a brigade rebel gunboat run onto one Of our torpedoes two deserters were shot we have torpedoes placed in the river He describes surrendering forces at Appomattox, and his return to a desolate Richmond Many descriptions of ironclad battles captured prisoners voting for Lincoln and MacClellan, baseball games mention of Generals Grant Meade, Sheridan Custer, Ord, etc Fully legible in torn leather cover With a second diary about 20pp. filled covers May Is July 15 1865 describing more visits around Richmond and his jubilant return to New York Two diaries