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Civil War Diary by a Soldier in Breckinridge's Guard for the Years 1862 through 1865....
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Sold on Sep 21, 2023 for:
$625.00
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Description
Civil War Diary by a Soldier in Breckinridge's Guard for the Years 1862 through 1865. Twenty-nine pages bound with string, 8" x 6.25", containing entries dated October 6, [1862] through January 29, [1865]. This diary was likely transcribed after the fact but appears to be from the period. First page reads: "The Breckinridge Guard was mustered into the Confederate States Service on the 24th July 1862. Left Washington Adams county Aug 12, 1862 for Port Hudson." Entries are brief, most being only a line or two in length, but make note of multiple battles over the years. The following entries are recorded in October and November 1863: "Tuesday Oct 27 Longstreets comp[an]y fighting with enemy below Lookout Mountain. 50 killed and wounded. Oct 28 Up very frequently during night. Splendid appearance of Orion in the east. Oct. 29... Compy ordered to Genl Breckinridge... Tuesday Nov 24 Fighting on our left. Enemy gain important advantage. Orders to be ready to move at moments notice and to have two days rations cooked... Thursday Nov 25 Battle Missionary Ridge Our army defeated by 4 times our number Gray killed. Mallory wounded. Gaynor captured. Retreat to Chickamauga."Entries in November and December 1864 include: "Nov 28 Fish for crawfish. Enemy evacuate. 29 Move at daylight cross Duck River and in a north... direction. Sleep in a haystack. Nov 30 Move to Franklin and assault the enemy and drive him from the town. Horse shot in two places but not seriously injured. I Stone slightly wounded. I Brandon ... 3 horses wounded. Dec 1st Pass over battlefield covered with dead. Ditches almost literally pools of blood... Dec 3 Advance within 6 m of Murfreesboro drive in Yankee pickets at..."
John Breckinridge commanded a division under Braxton Bragg in 1862, the first year of this diary. Bragg removed Breckinridge from command in November 1863, and he was reassigned to the Eastern Theater. The soldier who recorded this diary remained with his division and although this diary is likely transcribed after he leaves service, he titles it "Breckinridge's Guard" despite Breckinridge not remaining in command. We were not able to identify him.
Condition: Tight binding, with toning and offsetting. The last page, which is blank, has creasing and is dog-eared. Cover sheet is torn and missing about a third of the paper.
Provenance: From the Private Collection of a Mississippi Gentleman.
Auction Info
2023 September 21 Historical Manuscripts Signature® Auction #6272 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
September, 2023
21st
Thursday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 11
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 332
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