Joseph W. Crowther
Co. H. 128^th NY Vols.

The diary is Manuscript #330  Virginia Military Institute Archives.  Preston Library.  Lexington, VA. Used by permission.  Photocopy obtained from Dean Thomas. Transcribed by William J. Cork.  In transcribing, I chose to correct most spelling errors and to spell out most abbreviations.  I've added minimal punctuation to make portions more easily readable.  But I have left his grammar uncorrected.  The first page bears the date of Feb. 1st 1865, and Savannah Ga.  From the handwriting, it would appear that he there purchased a new leather bound diary, and transcribed the entries from Nov. 9th to that point.  People mentioned include his wife, Sarah Jane Crowther, James Crowther (his father?) and Eliza Ann Crowther (probably his sister of that name, rather than his mother; when they arrive in New York, he hears that his sister is in town, and looks for her).  Names of regimental members have been checked against the muster out roll published in D. H. Hanaburgh, History 128th N.Y. Vol. Inft. August 1862-July 1865 (Poughkeepsie, NY: Enterprise Publishing Company, 1894), pp. 256ff.  The diary begins three weeks after the Battle of Cedar Creek.  It was the unit's last battle--though of course, they had no way of knowing it at the time.  For more on Joseph Crowther, follow the link on the navigation bar to the descendants of James Crowther.  There is also a link to a page where you can read more about the history of the 128th. 

Civil War music on this and related  pages was sequenced by Dayle K.  Used by Permission. Unfortunately, his  Civil War Midi Page has been down since 8/2001 (link goes to Web Archive version). 

I've supplemented the diary's record with descriptions from D. H. Hanaburgh (in tables) that parallel Crowther's remarks or help to elucidate them.

Commencing at the 9^th of November 1864.

We was called up about 2 hours before daylight and formed a line of battle and stacked arms with orders to get our breakfast and be ready to march at daylight. At daylight we fell in line and received orders, not a man to leave camp, for we would march at 10 a.m. A Division of the 6^th Corps that had been encamped about 2 miles out in our front had come in.

At 10 a.m. we fell in line of march. We marched about 10 miles and went into camp again.

10^th. We was called up as usual before daylight under arms. A detail was made from the regiment to go out foraging. At 2 p.m. we got orders to strike tents and be ready to march at a moment’s notice. Got a letter for W.W. Marsh from Zacheus Marsh.

At 3 p.m. we again fell in line and marched about a ½ mile to the flank, formed a line and stacked arms and pitched our tents. All was quiet that night.

11^th. We was turned out under arms before daylight as usual. At 1 p.m. we got orders to fall in line under arms. This was from a report that came from the front that a squad of our cavalry had gone out after forage and come in contact with a Division of rebel cavalry advancing on us. We stood in line of battle a short time, then went to our quarters with orders to hold ourselves in readiness at a moment’s notice.

After dark we got orders to stay in our quarters and to have our equipment where we could get them in a moment. All was quiet through the night.

12^th. We was turned out under arms before daylight as usual this morning. Co. H had to go to work on the breastworks at daylight. We got orders to strike tents and pack up and stand under arms. It was reported that the rebels was in force between Middletown and Newtown. At this time our force was at Kernstown. Our cavalry commenced skirmishing with the rebel cavalry which lasted until about 3 p.m. We then got orders to discharge our pieces and reload. The report is this afternoon that the rebels hold Newtown in force. More or less skirmishing was kept up at that night.

13^th. We was called up as usual before daylight under arms. At 9 a.m. an order was read all along the lines that our cavalry had drove the rebs back 2 miles beyond Front Royal and captured 2 pieces of artillery and caissons and a number of prisoners about 150 and a number of wagons. This was a very cold day.

Received a letter from S.J.C no. 1. Wrote to S. J. Crowther no. 4.

14^th. We are still at Kernstown. At 4 p.m. we got orders to strike tents. We then fell in line and joined our Brigade and marched to Winchester and stopped there for that night. We was to guard the supply train to Martinsburg.

15^th. At 6 in the morning we again fell in line and deployed along the wagon train and marched to Martinsburg 22 miles from Winchester. We got to Martinsburg at 5 p.m. and went into Camp on the east side of the city.

16^th. We drawed clothes.

1 shelter tent
1 pair drawers
2 shirts
1 pair boots.

Received a letter from Robt. Johnson. The evening of the 16^th I received a box of tobacco for Wm. W. Marsh.

17^th. I run around all day selling tobacco. But it was a very wet day.

2 gross tin foil
1 ~do 3^oo smoking
1 doz 6^oo smoking

19^th. We was turned out at 4 o’clock in the morning to be ready to start with the train at daylight. We got to Bunker Hill about noon. Here we halted for a train to pass us going to Martinsburg. We got back to Winchester at 8 p.m. We marched through the city and went into camp for that night.

20^th. We was called up at daylight. Our regiment was detailed to go and guard the train to Kernstown. Then returned back to Winchester. Rained all day.

21^st. We still lay in camp at Winchester. It was a very cold stormy night.

22^nd. We got up in the morning and found the ground covered with snow. At 7 a.m. we got orders to strike tents and be ready to march. About 10 a.m. we got orders to put up our tents again. The rest of our Brigade went to the front this morning. Received a letter from S.J.C. no. 2.

23^rd. We broke camp at Winchester and marched to the front and went into camp on our old camp ground.

24^th. Thanks Giving day. Big thing. Turkey for dinner sent from the north.

25^th. Very cold and frosty. We are still in camp at Kernstown near Winchester.

26^th. All is quiet in our front. The enemy is said to be at New Market in force. Their pickets is at Edinburgh.

Wrote to S.J. Crowther.

27^th. Sunday morning inspection.

Wrote to Robt. Johnston.

Wrote to S.J. Crowther.

28^th. We are still at Camp Russell at Kernstown near Winchester. We have to turn out under arms every morning before daylight.

29^th. We got orders to drill. Company drill 2 hours each day.

30^th. I was on detail to out side the lines with 2 teams after brick for Gen. Grover’s headquarters. Received 2 letters from S.J.C. Received a letter from H. C. Swords.

December 1864

1^st. We are making preparations to build log huts.

2^nd. Received a letter from Sarah J. Crowther. No. 5.

Received a letter from Charles E. Knapp.

Wrote to Chas. E. Knapp.

Wrote to S.J.C. No. 8.

3^rd. We are at work building our log houses.

4^th. Worked on our shanty.

5^th. Went on picket all was quiet along the lines.

6^th. Relieved from picket.

7^th. We went to the woods to cut more timber.

8^th. We got 2 loads drawed to camp.

9^th. Went to the woods and got another load of timber to finish our shanty with.

Received a letter from S.J. Crowther. No. 6.

Received a letter from James Crowther.

Received a letter from Eliza A. Crowther.

10^th. We got up in the morning and found about 6 or 7 inches deep of snow.

11^th. Worked on our shanty.

12^th. Sunday. Quiet warm through the day.

Drawed clothes.  I drawed

1 pr. Drawers
1 " socks
1 blouse

Wrote to S.J. Crowther No. 9.

13^th. Very cold day.

No duty.

14^th. No duty. Received a letter from S.J. Crowther No. 9.

Received a letter from Chas. E. Knapp.

15^th. No duty. Nothing of importance occurred.

16^th. We got good news from Gen. Thomas. A salute was fired all along the lines of 100 guns.

Wrote to S.J. Crowther No. 10.

17^th. I was on picket at 3 o’clock p.m. 100 guns was fired at Camp Russell for Gen. Thomas victory over the rebel Gen. Hood in Tennessee. Also cheering was kept up that day and nearly all night.

18^th. We was relieved from picket.

Our knapsacks that we stored at Baton Rouge La. the 22^nd of March came to Camp Russell. But my knapsack did not come still.

The 8^th Corps left Camp Russell.

19^th. We got a stove that cost us $11.00 which made it very comfortable in our log house.

20^th. We had our shanty in good running order and we thought we was as comfortable as if we was at home. But this was our luck in the evening of the 20^th we got orders to pack up and be ready to march at 5 o’clock the next morning.

Sgt. Charles Wilbur came to the regiment at Camp Russell.

21^st. At 5 o’clock in the morning we broke camp and marched to Winchester. We carried our stove with us. It was a very stormy morning. We went into camp near the city. The ground was covered with snow. We got a few boards together and soon put up a shanty. Put up our stove and made ourselves as comfortable as possible.

22^nd. It was a very cold day. Our regiment had to furnish pickets every day which made duty quiet heavy.

23^rd. Myself and Corporal John Fitzgerald and 21 men was detailed on permanent duty in the city at Post Quartermasters. We had our quarters in a large hall. We had very good quarters. Our duty was to guard horses and ambulances: hay & grain & wood. We was under Capt. Mann.

Wrote to S.J. Crowther and sent home a memorial of our Company and Regiment.

Wrote to Chas. E. Knapp and sent him my likeness.

24^th. I was up to camp. Some of our boys had boxes sent from home and I had a good Christmas dinner.

25^th. Christmas day. We enjoyed ourselves very well considering our circumstances not having any money nor any thing else but government rations.

Wrote to S. J. Crowther No. 10.

Wrote to E. A. Crowther.

Wrote to Zacheus Marsh.

26^th. We got news that Gen. Sherman had taken Savannah.

27^th. Wrote to Wm. F. Correll
            Jerome
            Howard County
                    Indiana

It was reported that the rebel Col. Mosby was shot and had died from his wound. Today our cavalry brought in 2 pieces of artillery and a number of prisoners.

28^th. They are making permanent details from our regiment nearly every day. The duty is very hard at the regiment the men goes on picket every other day.

Drawed
        1 pair socks.

29^th. Very cold day.

Grain is coming back from the 1^st Division at the front to the post.

30^th. The 1^st Division came from the front through Winchester on their way to Stephenson’s Depot.

Wrote to S.J. Crowther No. 11.

31. We sat up and saw the Old Year out and the New Year in at our quarters in Winchester.

Let Geo. T. Deacon have a pair of boots.

January 1865

1^st. To commence the New Year we are in the City of Winchester.

2^nd. Nothing of importance occurred.

3^rd. Wrote to S.J. Crowther.

Received a letter from S.J. Crowther no. 10.

4^th. Went up to the regiment and got my Descriptive List from Capt. H. H. Sincerbox.

5^th. Drawed 1 pair pants on my Descriptive List at Post Quartermasters at Winchester Va. At 4 o’clock p.m. I Received an order that all detached men of the 3^rd Brigade 2 Division 19^th Army Corps should be relieved and report to headquarters. So we went to work and cooked a pig that we knocked over in the streets the day before and packed our knapsacks and was waiting for further orders.

This morning our regiment and Brigade passed through Winchester to Stephenson’s Depot to take the cars for Harpers Ferry.

This morning J. Armstrong and George T. Deacon came to see me. They was going home on a furlough.

6^th. At 11 a.m. I got orders to report to the courthouse with the whole guard and wait there for further orders.

6^th. At 3 o’clock all the different squads had reported to the courthouse and we all fell in line and marched through rain snow and mud about 5 inches deep. We marched within a ½ mile of the depot when we met an officer coming from the depot saying that our Brigade had left the depot and that we could not get on board of the cars that night and gave us orders to stay in a large brick building and remain there until morning. It was lucky for us that we stopped in the building for it was a very stormy night. This building previously had been Gen. Emery’s headquarters and there was every accommodation and plenty of wood to dry our clothes and keep warm by. This house was between the 2 picket lines so that we had to put out guards around the house.

7^th. At 9 o’clock a.m. we fell in line and marched to the depot. It was storming very hard. We had to stop at the depot until 2 p.m. While we stopped there we confiscated a box of Navy Tobacco and a box of oysters and 2 boxes of condensed milk and 1 box of apple jelly and a cheese belonging to a sutler. We lived high for a few days.

At 2 p.m. we embarked on the cars. We went about 12 miles when the locomotive with 8 or 9 cars broke loose from us and left us about 2 miles in the rear and we near nothing about. We supposed the cars had stopped for something however they thought enough of us to come back after us. We had to lay at Charlestown some 6 hours on account of some delay of the other trains.

But I had my stove with me and I put it up in the car and made ourselves very comfortable. We laid down in the car and went to sleep. The

8^th of the 8^th we found ourselves in Harpers Ferry. We then went to the Soldiers in Harpers Ferry. Here we drawed 2 days rations. We stopped in Harpers Ferry that day and night. That night myself and Francis Marston went to a private house and slept on the carpet.

9^th. We was to take the cars early this morning. We got up and got our breakfast and at 4 o’clock we went to the depot. We had to wait until 8 o’clock at the depot. We then embarked on the cars for Baltimore. We crossed the bridge and laid on the track on the Maryland side until 9 o’clock. We arrived at Baltimore at 5 p.m. We then marched to the Soldiers home. Got our supper and turned in for that night.

Wrote to S. J. Crowther.

10^th. At 11 a.m. we are still at the Soldiers home at Baltimore Md. Wrote to Geo. T. Deacon. At 2 p.m. we fell in line and marched to our regiment Here the whole Brigade was in barracks.

11^th. The 2^nd Brigade left Camp Carroll and went on board of transports. I packed up a box and sent it home containing

1 coat
1 pair pants
1 " drawers
1  shirt
1 cap
1 pair gloves
1 hat band
3 testaments
1 tactics book
1 account book
1 shoe horn.

This box was sent to the express office.

12^th. Received a receipt for it and sent it to S.J.C. Got orders to have all the Brigade baggage ready to go the depot and go on board of ship.

13^th. At 12 o’clock we left Camp Carroll Baltimore and marched to the steam ship wharf and went on board of the Steam Ship Snownoda the 128^th and 159^th NY Vols. and the 24^th Iowa. And Gen. Grover and staff all went on board of the Steam Ship Snownoda.

14^th. At 6 o’clock we left the dock at Baltimore. We arrived at Hampton Roads at 10 p.m. and cast anchor. Laid there until the morning of the 15^th.

15^th. The morning of the 15^th we went into to dock at Fortress Monroe and took on board 10 days rations.

Wrote to S.J. Crowther while laying at the dock at Fortress Monroe. At 5 p.m. we left the dock at Fortress Monroe and pushed out to sea.

16^th. We was off Hatteras. It was quite rough.

17^th. At 2 o’clock the morning of the 17^th our Steamer stopped. We saw flashes of canons and heard heavy firing. At first it was supposed to be a vessel in distress. It was afterwards supposed to be our gun boats off Charleston or Wilmington. At this time the sea was heavy and very windy.

18^th. We saw land at daylight in the morning. The sea was quite calm. This morning we saw several other vessels that had left Baltimore 2 and 3 days before we did. They was laying here waiting for a pilot. We stopped here a short time then got a pilot. Quite a number of the other vessels went back to Hilton Head. Our vessel and the Steam Ship Hudson New York went up the Warsaw Sound and entered into the Savannah River about a mile below the city, the river being full of obstructions between that and the mouth of the river so that it was not safe for a sea going vessel to go in at the mouth of the river. Here we cast anchor and a river steamer came to us. Gen. Grover and 2 of his staff went on board of her and went on up to the city. We laid at anchor that night.

We had one man died on board and was buried on the bank of the river. He belonged to the 176^th Regiment NY. The land on each side of the river was very low & marshy once apparently nothing but sand. The weather was warm and pleasant. But commenced to rain in the evening.

19^th. We still lay at anchor in the bay at an entrance of the Savannah River. It was a rainy day and night.

20^th. At 9 o’clock a.m. we got orders to get ready to disembark from the Steam Ship Snownoda. At 10 a.m. we got on board of a river steamer and went up the Savannah River. We got stuck in the mud which took us about 2 hours to get under way again.

At 2 p.m. we arrived at the City of Savannah Ga. We took our quarters in the Savannah rail road depot. It rained hard all day.

Wrote to Sarah J. Crowther.

21^st. We are still at the depot waiting for orders.

Rained hard all day.

22^nd. We had our Sunday morning inspection at the depot.

Rained all day again.

Gen. Kilpatrick came in on the train.

23^rd. We are still at the depot. The rest of our Brigade joined us at the depot.

Rained all day again.

24^th. We are still at the depot. Fine day for the first we have seen since we came to Savannah.

I went up town to look around the city.

Very cold night for this country.

25^th. We are still at the depot waiting for Sherman's troops to leave so that we can take their quarters. The weather has been so bad that they could not march.

26^th. At 8 o’clock this morning we got orders to sling our knapsacks and fall in line. We marched through the city and went into camp on the south west side of the city. There had been no troops encamped here so that we had to build up shanties. But we soon got boards together and got our shanties up. It was a very cold day and night the citizens in this place say that they have not had such cold weather in a great many years.

27^th. We worked on our shanty. A part of the 20^th Corps left here today.

About 10 p.m. a fire broke out in the city. Supposed to have been set on fire by some of the citizens. The fire engines was all there and put it out. Meanwhile another fire broke out on the other side of town that also was set on her by some citizens of Savannah that was favorable to the rebels. This was a very large fire. It burnt down some 3 or 4 blocks, also a store house that had in it a great many shells that had been captured from the enemy. There was several killed and wounded by the explosion of the shells.

The citizens saved but very little of their frustration. The pieces of shells flew for a half a mile in all directions so that they had all that they could do to save themselves. The fire engines could not get near enough to the fire to do any good on account of the shells bursting.

I was at the fire. It was a terrible sight. The fire was stopped running from building to building about daylight the next morning.

28^th. I was detailed to go on picket. We could hear the shells explode in the ruins all day long and several through the night.

It was a very cold night. It froze ice a half inch thick.

29^th. We was relieved from picket at a 11 o’clock a.m. Since the great fire there has been a great many torpedoes and shell and large quantity of powder found in different buildings in all parts of the city. It seems that a portion of the citizens intend to destroy the city if possible.

The guards has orders to arrest all suspicious persons.

30^th. Worked on our shanty to make it more comfortable.

31^st. The duty is heavy on the regiment just now. The men has to go on picket every other day or on patrols. The rest of the time they have to work on the breastworks.

Wrote to Sarah J. Crowther.

February 1865

1^st. Wrote to James Crowther.

Wrote to Chas. E. Knapp.

2^nd. Nothing of importance occurred.

3^rd. Drawed

1 pair shoes
1 pr drawers

A great deal of smallpox in and about the city.

4^th. Nothing of importance.

5^th. Sunday morning inspection. Went to church for the first time in 6 months.

Received 3 letters from Sarah J. Crowther. No 12, 13, & 14.

Received a letter from James Crowther.

Received a letter from Wm. F. Carrell.

Wrote to Sarah J. Crowther.

5^th. Wrote to James Crowther.

6^th. Detailed to work on the breastworks. James Armstrong returned to the regiment. Brought me a package from my wife also a package from Eliza Ann Crowther.

7^th. Cold rainy day. We put up a stove in our shanty. Wrote to Sarah J. Crowther and sent her a 25 cent Confederate note.

8^th. Wrote to E. A. Crowther and sent her a Confederate note. Wrote to James Crowther and sent him a war song.

9^th. Received of Geo. T. Deacon $300 [I thought sure that must be only $3.00, but try as I might, I see no decimal point!]. Went on picket on the Thunder Bolt Road we had strict orders to keep a good lookout for a cavalry raid.

10^th. We was relieved from picket at 2 p.m.

Good news in the papers concerning peace.

Received a letter from E. A. Crowther.

11^th. Very fine warm day.

12^th. Sunday morning inspection. Went to church in the morning.

Received a letter from Sarah J. Crowther No. 15.

Wrote to Sarah J. Crowther and sent her $20.00.

Wrote to E. A. Crowther.

Wrote to Wm. F. Carrell.

13^th. We got the news in the Savannah papers that Lieut. Gen. Grant was again under motion on the 5^th Feb. the Army of the James to cooperate with him commenced to build a fort near the cemetery a part of it to be on the burial ground. Several graves was taken up for that purpose. But that order was revoked and was to build the fort elsewhere.

14^th. Rainy Day.

Wrote to Chas. W. Lucas Co. G. 54^th Regt. NY Vols.
            1^st Brigade Gordon's Division
            Folly Island
                    S.C.

Wrote to Samuel Marsh.

Gen. Sherman's movements giving the rebels great anxiety.

One of our scouts came in and reported that the rebel cavalry was in force 8 miles from the city.

15^th. A heavy detail was made to work on the breastworks.

16^th. I was detailed with a squad to work on the breastworks.

17^th. Nothing of importance.

We had orders to turn out under arms at each roll call. Also to have dress parade by order of Brevet Major Gen. Grover. We had an oyster supper the night of the 17^th.

Heavy cannonading heard down the river.

18^th. News reached us that Gen. Sherman had gained a good position near Charleston S.C.

19^th. I went on picket. I had the river post on the whiskey line. At 12 o’clock at noon there was 100 guns fired. We soon learned that it was a salute for Gen. Sherman’s victory at Charleston.

20^th. Relieved from picket.

Wrote to Sarah J. Crowther No. 1.

21^st. I went down in the city to visit some of my old acquaintances.

22^nd. Washington’s birthday. It was celebrated by firing the National Salute, the guns being manned by staff officers. The salute was fired between the hours of 12 & 1 p.m. The salute was displayed in the park. All the bells in the city was rang from 12 until 1. The salute was also fired at Fort Pulaski. The flag & collars flying at the heads and center of all the different regiments also at all the headquarters through the city. Also a ration of whiskey was given to all the troops by order of Gen. Grover. Music was played by the band in the city park until sun down.

23^rd. Received a letter from S.J.C. dated Feb 14^th and No. 15.

Wrote to S.J. Crowther No. 2.

24^th & 25^th. Nothing of importance occurred.

26^th. Sunday morning inspection. Went to church in the morning. News reached us that Wilmington was captured, with 4000 prisoners. Wrote to Sarah J. Crowther without number.

27^th. Went down to see some of my old acquaintances and had a good time.

28^th. We was mustered for pay for the months of Jan & Feb. Wrote to James G. Bennett.

March 1^st 1865

1^st. I was detailed on post guard in the city.

At a. 11 o’clock a.m. our Brigade Received marching orders. At 6 o’clock p.m. we was relieved from duty by the 2^nd Brigade.

2^nd. Wrote to Sarah J. Crowther No. 3 and sent a ring for Miss Mary Lucas.

Received a letter from E. A. Crowther.

Wrote to Eliza A. Crowther.

Our Brigade is still under marching orders expecting to march ever moment. The night of the 2^nd we still remain in camp.

3^rd. We are still in camp.

Received 2 letters from S.J.C.

Wrote to Sarah J. Crowther No. 4. Drawed 1 pair of socks.

We are still in camp at Savannah the night of the 3^rd.

4^th. President Lincoln commenced his new term as president of the United States.
At 5 o’clock p.m. we got orders to prepare for a General Inspection.

5^th. At 1 o’clock p.m. we got orders to have our knapsacks packed and be ready to march at a moments notice. Also that the officers tents and baggage must be at the dock at 2 p.m. Also that we must have everything packed and be ready to march at 5 o’clock the next morning. That afternoon I went to church, but on my arrival back at camp I found the tents all down. They had Received orders to break camp and at 5 o’clock p.m. we fell in line and joined the Brigade and marched to the steam boat depot and embarked on board of a steam boat, where we laid at the dock until the next morning.

6^th. At 6 o’clock in the morning we left the dock and proceeded down the river. We stopped a short time at Fort Pulaski. We arrived at the dock at Hilton Head at 11 o’clock a.m. At 12 o’clock we pushed out again and lay at anchor in the bay. At 10 o’clock that night the Steam Ship Ericsson came along side of us and we then went on board of her. The steam boat then left us. The Steam Ship Ericsson laid at anchor until about noon the 7^th when we hove anchor and pushed out to sea. After we had been out some 6 hours we had quite a storm between 5 & 6 p.m. We was off Wilmington. At dark we pushed out to sea from the coast, it being a rough and stormy night.

9^th. At 1 o’clock p.m. we hove in sight of land. We run in to the bay near Fort Fisher and cast anchor at the mouth of Cape Fear River, hoisted our pilot flag and laid at anchor.

10^th. This morning a small boat was sent to shore where we Received orders to report to Morehead City. We then hoisted anchor and pushed out to sea again. It was a very stormy day and very rough sea.

11^th. Arrived off Beaufort in the morning. Sent a small boat to shore for orders.

At 10 o’clock a.m. the small boat returned to the ship with a light draft transport to take us over the bar. We disembarked at Morehead City thence took the cars the same evening for New Bern on the North Caroline R.R. arriving at New Bern at midnight where we again disembarked and fell in line and stacked arms near the depot made our coffee and turned in for the night.

We Received news that General Schofield had taken Kinston and that he was driving the rebel Gen. Brag and his army pell mell.

12^th. Sunday morning. At 8 o’clock we fell in line and marched to the barracks where we passed that day.

13^th. We was turned out at 5 o’clock in the morning to get our grub and orders to be ready to march at 7 o’clock. We had inspection of guns, ammunition & at this time we learned that our regiment and the 17^th NY Vols. was detached from the Brigade to the post at New Bern and the rest of the Brigade went that day to Morehead City. At 9 o’clock we got orders to have our knapsacks packed and be ready to march. At 3 o’clock p.m. we had spades and axes presented to us and fell in line and marched some 4 miles from New Bern where we stacked arms put out pickets and stopped for that night in a pine woods.

14^th. This morning we was divided up in companies and commenced to work on the road. Our company got our work done that was laid out for that days work and marched about one mile and joined Co. B. where we again pitched our tents and stopped for that night. This was a rainy night.

15^th. We worked on the road until 4 o’clock p.m. when we again broke camp and marched about a mile where we joined to the regiment and went into camp again for that night. This was another wet night. This night our rations was up.

16^th. We stopped here until our rations come to us. At a 11 o’clock a.m. we broke camp and marched some 2 miles where we went into camp again. We done no work to day.

Wrote to Sarah J. Crowther No. 5.

17^th. The left wing of the regiment did not work this day.

Wrote to Eliza A. Crowther.

Wrote to James Crowther.

18^th. The whole regiment worked on the road in the forenoon. News came to us that Gen. Schofield and Sherman had formed a junction near Goldsboro.

19^th. We was out of money and tobacco. Our Capt. H. H. Sincerbox sent to New Bern and had a box of tobacco sent to him. He let each man have a plug. I had 1 plug 75 cents.

We had our Sunday morning inspection in the pine woods 10 miles from New Bern.

At 10 o’clock a.m. 2 teams came to us from New Bern bringing us 3 days rations, also our rations of Whiskey.

At 12 o’clock that day we broke camp and fell in line and marched about 8 miles then went into camp again. The right wing of our regiment marched some 5 miles in advance of us this day to fix a bridge in order that a train could pass going to Schofield’s army containing officers baggage.

2 cavalry men passed us from the front. Bring the news that Gen. Schofield’s army was to move this morning.

20^th. We worked on the road as usual. No news.

21^st. We worked on the road in the forenoon. At 1 o’clock p.m. we broke camp and fell in line and marched some 3 miles and went into camp again, the right wing being still in advance of us. It being a wet night we got an extry ration of whiskey.

22^nd. We worked on the road until 3 o’clock p.m.

Wrote to Francis Marston.

23^rd. Got our breakfast and fell in line and marched some 2 miles where we joined the right wing of our regiment. Here the left wing had a ration of whiskey, then the whole regiment fell in line and marched about 2 miles when the left wing halted and worked about ½ a mile of the road, then fell in line and marched about a mile in advance of the right wing where we went into camp again for that night.

At midnight the woods was on fire all around us. We was turned out and burnt a space all around us so that the fire could not get into our camp. The right wing at this time was about a half a mile in our rear. They was obliged to move their camp about midnight on account of the fire.

24^th. We worked on the road in the morning. At a 11 o’clock a.m. we broke camp and marched about a mile and went into camp again.

The night of the 24^th I was on duty guarding the rations that came to us that night from New Bern, also over the whiskey. At this time we was about 25 miles from New Bern. We got the news that Gen. Sherman had had another fight at Bentonville. In the commencement of the fight our forces was repulsed but afterwards whipped and drove the rebels badly, completely routing them.

25^th. We broke camp at 10 a.m. and marched about a mile and went into camp again. This day our company did no work. A number of the boys went out foraging and brought in considerable fresh meat. We heard of some guerrillas being near us. Some of the boys went out that night to look after them but did not see them.

26^th. Sunday. We got orders to work that morning and finish a place in the road so that we could go on. We worked but it went against the grain. It was reported that there had been seen about 100 guerrillas in our advance and that we was to work this day in order that we could join the regiment that day in case they was attacked by guerrillas. At 10 o’clock p.m. we broke camp and fell in line and marched to a place called Dover Station. Here we joined the right wing. This place was fortified. It had been fortified by the rebels. Here we went into camp. A part of the construction corps was at this place.

26^th. Wrote to S. J. Crowther No. 6.

27^th. Commenced our work as usual on the road. We worked until 10 o’clock a.m. At 1 o’clock p.m. we broke camp and marched some 2 miles and went into camp again. The left wing stopped back to fix a bad place near the saw mill and to build a bridge.

We have very warm days but cold nights here for this time of year in this country. We got our whiskey ration in the evening.

28^th. We was out of rations. We worked up the road until 10 a.m. then went to camp. We did not work any more that day on account of our rations not coming to us. They was due to us this morning but did not get them until late in the evening. But some of the boys went out foraging and brought in all the fresh meat that we could eat.

Received a letter from S.J. Crowther dated March 17 and No. 19.

4 of the boys from our company was out foraging. They came in contact with 6 deserters from the rebel army and brought them in.

29^th. At 9 o’clock a.m. we broke camp and marched about 1 mile when we halted and commenced to work on the road. The regiment at this time was deployed in companies in different places along the road for 2 miles. Each company worked about 2 hours that day which completed the road to what is called the old Battle Ground. It is where Gen. Schofield fought his hard battle. This place is 5 miles from Kinston. We went into camp on the old Battle Ground that night.

I spent about 3 hours in going over the Battle Ground.

At 7 o’clock that night we got orders to report to Kinston the next morning.
Tonight we received the news by the way of Kinston through rebel sources that Gen. Grant had had a battle with Gen. Lee and that he had captured 15,000 prisoners and that Gen. Lee was evacuating Richmond.

30^th. We was called up by the beat of the drum at 5 o’clock in the morning with orders to get our grub and be ready to march. At 6 o’clock we fell in line of march and marched to Kinston where we stacked arms, with orders to pitch our tents. About one half of the tents was put up when we got orders not to put up our tents, but that we should remain there about 1 hour. So we passed that hour in making our coffee & when we again fell in line and marched down the rail road about 2 miles to the steam boat depot on the Neuse River and what is called the Long Bridge on the North Carolina R.R. Here we went into camp. At this time they was expecting a cavalry raid at this place as there has been a rebel cavalry force been seen between Kinston and Goldsboro. Here we got orders that not a man should leave camp, also to have roll call twice a day, also that the regiment should turn out at half past 4 o’clock every morning under arms and in line in case of an attack by the expected cavalry.

Wrote to Sarah J. Crowther No. 7.

31^st. We was turned under arms according to orders. Today our Regiment furnished guards to guard commissary stores & we received news that Major Gen. Sherman had returned to his army again after a visit to Washington and that he made a speech to his men saying that if they had as good success as they have had that all the men would be home in less than 3 months.

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