We leave Plymouth. Dec. 24. On the 8th of December the regiment embarked on the schooner Skirmisher for Newbern, arriving there on the evening of the 10th. We were right glad to once more get back to camp, where we could clean ourselves up and get a change of clothing, but were much more glad [...]

We Stay Awhile in Plymouth. Nov. 20. All the troops, with the batteries, wagons, horses, mules and negroes, have been sent around to Newbern by boats, and we alone are left to garrison the town till further orders. In the meantime it would be agreeable to have a change of clothing. When we left Newbern, [...]

Warning The following diary entry contains wording that is offensive to many in the world of today. However, the entry is provided unedited for its historical content and context. The Tarboro March. Nov. 12. On the morning of Oct. 30, Major Pickett, with six companies (the other four being on picket up the Trent road), [...]

Col. Upton Leaves Us. Oct. 29. Our regiment is now left with only one field officer, Major Pickett. Col. Upton left us yesterday and Lieut. Col. Sprague and Adjutant Harkness left us two weeks ago. Lieut. Col. Sprague left to take command of a nine months’ regiment already recruited in the city of Worcester. Adjutant [...]

A Trip to Plymouth, N. C. On the 15th of this month, the 25th, Major Pickett in command, with the 17th Massachusetts and the 10th Connecticut regiments, the whole under command of Col. Upton, embarked on steamers bound for Plymouth, on the Roanoke river which empties into the Albemarle sound at its extreme western end. [...]

We Lose Our Bands. Sept. 20. All the regimental bands have been mustered out and have gone home. Ours left the first of this month, and it seems quite lonely to have them gone. They were the solace of many a weary hour. I understand that this is in the interest of economy, the bands [...]

I Get On The Retired List. August 20. Until recently I have been quite a popular commander of Sunday church parties. The boys would get up their parties and get me a pass to take them into town to church. I would take them in and, halting on some convenient corner, would deliver myself of [...]

Warning The following diary entry contains wording that is offensive to many in the world of today. However, the entry is provided unedited for its historical content and context. Company Drills. July 25. The colonel, thinking that guard duty and dress parades are not quite exercise enough for us, has ordered company drills in the [...]

Warning The following diary entry contains wording that is offensive to many in the world of today. However, the entry is provided unedited for its historical content and context. Celebrating the Fourth of July. July 5. The Fourth was celebrated with salutes from the forts, batteries and gunboats, morning, noon and night. There were gala [...]

Warning The following diary entry contains wording that is offensive to many in the world of today. However, the entry is provided unedited for its historical content and context. An Excursion. June 29. Companies C and B, together with Capt. Schenck’s New York battery company as infantry, returned yesterday afternoon from an expedition across the [...]

Hot Weather. June 16. It is so hot most of the time we are scarcely able to do anything more than keep ourselves as comfortable as possible. All duty is suspended except guard duty and dress parade, and we are getting almost too lazy to eat; in fact do miss a good many meals unless [...]

Camp Oliver. June 6. We are now in a neatly arranged camp on somewhat elevated ground at the west side of the city, and about a quarter of a mile to the rear of Fort Totten, a large field fortification mounting twenty heavy guns. A back street runs along the left flank, on which is [...]

A Change of Base. June 1. And now something else has turned up, and here we are encamped just outside the city and behind our batteries. The order to move took us by surprise, as the first notice we had was to pick up our traps and be ready to march in half an hour. [...]

Thunder Storms. May 28. It has rained almost constantly for the past week, and when it rains here in Dixie it is no drizzle, but comes down a perfect waterfall, sometimes for twelve hours together, accompanied with lightning and thunder of the grandest description. There is a grandeur in one of these storms at night, [...]

Reasoning. May 20. Lying around here in the woods, hearing no sound but the moaning of the wind through the tree tops, is rather dull business. There is nothing in it that inspires any lofty, rapturous thought, and yet it inspires thought, and already one of Mr. Bogey’s sheep has fallen a victim to thoughts [...]

We Go Out Making Calls. May 16. For some time past the pickets of the 17th Massachusetts have been a good deal troubled by being fired on in the night. The enemy’s cavalry would come down, a few of them dismount and creeping up would fire on them. They would sometimes have cow bells with [...]

Picket Duty. May 14. I was out in the woods yesterday and last night on picket duty, and picket duty is simply lying around in the brush watching the approach of outside parties. Parties approaching in the night time and failing to promptly respond to the hail of the picket are given an instantaneous passport [...]

Mr. Bogey. May 11. This place is what is called a turpentine plantation, where they get the pitch from which turpentine is distilled. The owner, Mr. Bogey, a harmless, inoffensive old gentleman, claims to be a Union man, and I reckon he is, because he does not run away or seem to be afraid of [...]

May 8. Our city life is about over; we have orders to break up housekeeping here tomorrow and go on a rusticating tour in the country. Among the boys all is speculation as to where we are going and what our errand is.

Fort Macon. May 1. Martial law not being a very favorable institution for pleasure parties, I presume the usual May day festival is dispensed with here as I have not seen any parties out or demonstrations of any kind going on. I should think a May party here might be very successful as the woods [...]

Growing Tired. April 25. We have now been several weeks in the city and the boys are beginning to tire of it. This every-day, humdrum life is getting irksome, and the boys are anxious for a change. Frequent changes and excitement are what keeps up the soldier’s spirits. In the dull routine and idleness of [...]

I Get Arrested. April 20. Not caring to trouble the captain all the time for passes I have got in the habit of going about town on my sagacity, and I have not yet discovered but it answers the purpose as well as a pass, but I was brought up a day or two ago, [...]

Another Change in the Line. April 14. And now another change has occurred, Capt. Clark of company B has resigned. If this thing becomes chronic, I am not quite sure but I shall resign and go home, and then, perhaps, I shall be given a sutler’s or horse doctor’s commission and be sent back. Capt. [...]

We Lose Our Major. April 1. I learn that Major McCafferty has resigned and is going to leave us. I am sorry to learn that his ambition for fame is so soon gratified. I think a good deal of the major and shall miss him very much. He is a man of great good nature [...]