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Civil War Diary of John E. Davis, 27th Ohio Infantry Regiment. ...
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Description
Civil War Diary of John E. Davis, 27th Ohio Infantry Regiment. One diary, primarily in ink with eight pages in pencil, measuring 3" x 5.75"; boards missing. Approximately forty-five pages, recto and verso. John E. Davis mustered into Company E of the 27th Ohio Infantry on August 7, 1861. His entries date from September 4, 1862 to May 23, 1863 with eight loose pages from September 9-24, 1861. It covers their advance through Missouri, the battles of Iuka and Corinth, and Parker's Cross Roads, and their movements through Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee. His entries also discuss casualties, picket duty, the weather, and rations. Davis was discharged for disability in Memphis on August 11, 1863. [Punctuation occasionally added for clarity.]In the fall of 1862, the 27th was attached to 1st Brigade with the Army of Mississippi under Major General William Rosecrans and Colonel John. W. Fuller. The day before the battle of Iuka, the 27th was nearly twenty miles behind Grant's men. The next day they were required to rise early, march the majority of the day and head straight to the battlefield. He describes the battle in entries from September 19th and 20th. "Started a little after daylight, Marched about 18 mile, stoped and loaded, our men drove the enemies pickets about 4 mile when the fight commenced in earnest. Our brigade double quicked about a mile to the battle field, the enemy having drove us back but were in turn drove back leaving us in possession of the battle ground, laid on our arms all night...our brigade advance in front, pass over the battle ground...the roads strewed with Wagons & plunder of the enemy...the enemy left their dead and wounded."
Less than two weeks later, General Rosecrans and the 27th once again met the enemy on a Mississippi battlefield. Davis's entries on October 3rd and 4th recount the Second Battle of Corinth and the death of Edward McDonald from company E. "...got men to Corinth about 8 O'clock morning...started to the Battlefield. Our troops fall back to town and we enter Corinth in the Evening and took up our Position ready for action in the morning... The enemy shelled us part of the night and in the morning by daylight marched about 9 O'clock. The enemy attacked in force, Drove our Right wing into town but were soon drove back, they assaulted our right wing 3 times, the assault on the left was not with much energy, that one trial satisfied them, 7 of our company killed and wounded and 10 of our Regt. killed, wounded, and missing. E. McDonalds killed..."
Davis's entries over the next few weeks recount the regiment's pursuit of the enemy through the wilderness, Corpl. Miller's death from injuries sustained in the Corinth fight and the occasional skirmish. On December 10th, they passed a Confederate fort near Abbeyville on the Tallahatchie river. On the 17th, the regiment was reviewed by General Grant and Davis writes about rumors of a fight at Fredericksburg. The 27th marched northward into Tennessee to cut off General Forrest that same month. They met on the battlefield at Parker's Cross Roads on December 31st, when Fuller's troops approached at Forrest's rear, forcing the enemy to abandon several pieces of artillery during their flight. "Ordered to march, Started at 5 O'clock marched steady, passed through Clarksburgh, Squad Sesesh Cavalry, Dunham Brigade fighting ahead got up between 1 and 2 O'clock formed and advanced just in time, boys eager. Rebs could not stand us, after a short fight Skedadled [sic]. We captured 9 pieces of armor, three of our own that they took before we got up, about 500 Prisoners, one wounded in our Camp."
The rest of the diary covers their time in Tennessee and Alabama near Tuscumbia. His entries discuss war rumors, camp life and the occasional skirmish. An example appears in an April 24th entry about a quick skirmish that ended in a Confederate retreat. "...Came in sight of Tuscumbia about 11 O'clock Rebs drew up in line but left...A heavy skirmish a few miles in front..." The diary concludes on May 29, 1863 with the regiment encamped at Memphis, Tennessee.
Condition: Boards missing with a few loose pages laid in. Dampstained along bottom margin extending through first half of diary, but which does not affect legibility of those entries. Scattered soiling.
Auction Info
2022 June 4 Historical Manuscripts Signature® Auction #6247 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
June, 2022
4th
Saturday
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