The Diary of William A. Millen

1862-1863

Attached to the front of the diary is a paper that reads as follows:

An account frome the 1st of August 1862 till the 1st of January 1863 -

On the 26 of AugÆt we got orders to march. We moved to the depot, stayed till the 28th when we took the cairs and went to Collumbia and on the 1st of Sept. we marched to Franklin - 2nd marched to Camp Andy Johnson. 9th we moved into Nashville- 26th we went out on a scout And on the 2nd of Oct. we started and marched 20 miles to White Creek where we had a skirmish with the enemy. Returned the same night and on the 6th we started and marched to Leavegne where we had a skirmish. On the morning of the 7th Union loss 4 killed, 8 wounded Rebel loss 90 killed 80 wounded and 300 prisoners. We returned to camp and on the 9th we escorted the Rebel prisoners out of our lines and on the 15th we moved our camp one mile North and stayed till the 22nd when we marched and attacked the enemy at Neleysbend killing 30 taking 25 prisoners. Our loss 5 killed, 8 wounded. We returned to camp and on the 31st we went into town and quartered in the Courthouse and on the 5th of Nov. the enemy made an attack on Nashville, but they were driven off. Our RegÆt 78th supported a battery and on the 26th I went into town to guard Haymasters, and on the 9th of December we marched 8 miles South of Nashville to Camp Hamelton, and on the 12th we had Grand Review, and on the 26th we moved to Nolinville. We then moved on to within 5 miles of Mufreesboro, and on the 31st was the day of the great battle of StoneÆs River. Thus ended the year of eighteen-hundred-and-Sixty-two.

Title page of Diary reads:

Wm A. Millen

Murfreesboro, Penn.

Companey Cr. 78th Reg

Penna. Voll.

Jan1 - On the battlefield and on picket duty at night

2- Moved till the left center in the fight. And drove the Rebels across the river.

3- Stay on the left - the rain falling in torrents.

4- Moved to the centre and lay all day

5- Went into Murfreesboro as Seorro guard

6- On guard

7- Off duty

8- Off duty

9- On guard. Dress parade in the eavning

10- Off duty

11- On guard.

12- Off duty

13- Off duty

14- On guard

15- Off duty. It rained and snowed. And was very cold at night.

16- On guard

17- Off duty

18- Off duty

19- On Patroll guard

20- About quarters. Off duty

21- On fatieugl duty in fournoon off duty in afternoon

22- About quarters. Off duty

23- On post guard

24- Off duty and rained all day

25- On post guard

26- At quarters and off duty

27- On guard and it snowed all afternoon.

28- Off duty and the weather being very cold

29- On quard

30- Off duty. The weather being very pleasant.

31- On quard the RegÆt was taken out and discharged their guns.

FEBRUARY

1 - Off guard

2. On patrol guard

3. Reileived of guard.

4. On guard and it snowed.

5. Releived of guard about quarters.

6. Off duty, and about quarters.

7. Off guard

8. Off guard.

9. Off guard.

10. On guard.

11. Off guard.

12. On patrol guard

13. Off guard.

14. Off guard.

15. On patrol guard.

16. Off guard.

17. Off guard

18. On guard at Courthaus

19. Off duty.

20. Off duty

21. On guard.

22. Releived of guard . stayed about quarters.

23. Off duty

24. Off duty.

25. Off Duty

26. On guard

27. Our RegÆt was payed off for four months.

28. Off duty. The Co. presented Capt Cummins with a sword costing $100.

29. Off duty and about quarters.

MARCH

1. Started on a Recannoicence marched 18 miles and back to Bradyvill pike, Buivocked for the night.

2. Marched back to town. Got to our quarters at 4 oÆclock, P.M.

3. On guard.

4. Off duty at quarters.

5. Off duty at quarters.

6. Off duty at quarters.

7. On guard at Courthaus.

8. Relieved -at quarters

9. Off duty at quarters.

10. Off duty at quarters

11. On guard

12. Off duty at quarters

13. On Post guard at town

14. Relieved at quarters.

15. Off duty at quarters.

16. Off duty and Battelion drill in eavning.

17. On guard at Town.

18. Battalion drill - Calv. Surwell was presented a sward

19. Off duty in quarters

20. Off duty in quarters

21. On guard in Town

22. Regt mentall inspection.

23. On post guard in town.

24. About quarters raining in the Eavning.

25. Prepare for review -rains all fournoon- go on guard in eavning

26. On guard the weather being very pleasant

27. On guard and the weather ??

28. About quarters. Dress parade in eavning

29. About quarters the weather being very cold

30. On guard. About quarters.

31. On review. And I was 22 years of age. The weather being very plesent. Went on guard in the evening.

APRIL

1. On guard the weather being very pleasant.

2. Off duty and about quarters

3. Off duty and had a large battalion drill

4. On guard in town

5. Off duty and battalion drill.

6. On guard in town as peace guard.

7. Off duty - dress parade in the eavening

8. On post guard in town.

9. relieved frome guard in morning - drill in afternoon.

10. Off duty and about quarters

11. Off duty and seeing the ??

12. On post guard???

13. About quarters - Regimental drill in the eavning

14. On guard weather ?

15. About quarters ????

16. About quarters ? ? duty

17. About quarters-1Æo past noon regt drill in country

18. On guard the weather beautiful!

19. About quarters - rains in the eavning

20. On guard -the next ??- wer relieved frome guard at town

21. Pitched tents and fixed up -our guarters rained in eavning

22. About quarters - got payed in afternoon

23. Review in forenoonwent on picket in eavning on the Manchester pike

24. On picket all day

25. relieved of picket in forenoon - about quarters

26. Off duty- about quarters- on sick list

27. about quarters in forenoonBattalion drill in eaving

28. on camp guard- the weather being very warm-started out on a scout

29. lay an Brigaid picket-some 7 miles south of Murfreesboro

30. On Brigaid picket -the weather being pleasant

MAY 1863

1. On Brigaid picket

2. Relieved of brigaid picket in the eavning and returned to camp

3. About quarters - got a pass and went to the 78th Regulars

4. Company muster in forenoon - about quarters in afternoon

5. out on pass and got a picture taken

6. on ?? quard - the weather being ??

7. about quarters -weat and cold

8. About quarters -drill in eavning

9. Company drill in forenoon- Batallion drill in the eavning -inspected by 50 ??

10. Company inspection in forenoon-Regimental drill in afternoon

11. Went on Picket southeast of Murfreesboro

12. Relieved of picket morning- put up our shelter tents in the eavning

13. On fatigue duty in forenoonBatallion drill in eavning

14. about quarters in fournoon -Battulion drill in eavning

15. About quarters in ? -? ? drill ?

16. Sick and about quartrs

17. Sick and about quarters

18. On fatigue duty in forenoon -Brigaid drill in eavning

19. On Brigaid drill in the afternoon

20. Company drill in forenoon - Regt in afternoon

21. Camp drill in forenoon -???????

22. Camp drill in forenoon -Brigaid drill in afternoon

23. went on picket in forenoon

24. relieved of picket in forenoon

25. About quarters in forenoon -Brigaid drill in the eavning

26. Company drill in the forenoon -A dress parade in the eavning

27. On camp quard the weather being very pleasant

28. about quarters - dress peraid in the eavning

29. Rejimental inspection in fournoon - Battalion drill in the eavning.

30. Rained all day -A dress peraid in the eavning

31. Company inspection in the morning - About quarters through the day- dress pieraid in the eavvning and our chaplain delivered an address, it being just one year since he last preached to us and that was at Rogersville in Alabama.

JUNE 1863

1. Went on picket on the North East of Murfreesboro

2. Relieved of picket in the morning - dress peraid in the eavning

3. Prepair for review-had a grand review in the eavning

4. Prepair ? for eight days in the fournoon regimental drill in the eavning

5. -about quarters in fournoon - went about three quarters of a mile and witness a man hung for murder

6. On police duty in the fournoonRegimental in the eavning

7. Company inspection -dress peraid in the eavnin

8. About quarters all day. And not very well

9. went on picket stayed till the morning of the

10. was relieved of picket

11. about quarters all day till the eavning when we had Brigaid drill

12. Brigaid inspection in fournoon -Brigaid drill in the eavning.

13. off duty - the Regiment had drill in the eavning

14. off duty - rained in the eavning

15. About quarters in the fournoon - Brigaid drill in the eavning.

16. Gen. Negley had Division drill in the eavning

17. About quartrs in fournoon - Division drill in the eavning

18. On Camp guard

19. About quarters in fournoon. -went on Division with the 74th Regt Ohio Volls.

20. About quarters in fournoon - Division drill in the afternoon.

21. about quarters in fournoon. -dress peraid in the eavning

22. Went on picket with the 74th Regt.C. V.

23. Relieved of picket in the morning and crach wreshion.

24. Started at 8 oÆclock and marched 8 miles on the Manchester Pike

25. marched 3 miles and stoped for the night

26. start at 8 0Æclo and marched about 2 miles to Hoovers Gap

27. Marched 18 miles to Manchester

28. Stayed at Manchester, it being Sunday

29. marched 6 miles towards Sulahoma - and it rained all day.

30. Went on picket in front of Sulahoma

JULY 1863

1. Relieved off picket in the morning.

2. marched 2 miles and buivancthed for the night

3. Started at 6 0Æclock A.M. and marched Southwest and crossed Duck River ? miles in all 5 miles.

4. Left camp at 12 oÆclock and marched 5 miles to the foot of the Cumberland Mountains.

5. Stayed in camp at the foot of the Cumberland Mountains -went on guard at night.

6. Relieved of guard in the morning-put up our tent

7. went out ?? in the morning -? I haddryed meat, stewed apples, and coffee for supper.

8. Started at 11 oÆclock A.M. and marched ? to Decherds Station.

9. Put up our tents and had nothing to eat but broiled beef

10. Policed in the fournoon. Went on guard at Brigaid headquarters in the eavning

11. About quarters in fournoon - Brigaid drill in the eavning

12. About quarters and had dress peraid in the eavning.

13. About quarters in the fournoon -Brigaid drill in the eavning

14. On Police duty in the fournoon - Brigaid drill in the afternoon

15. Com. Drill in the fournoon -Battallion drill in the afternoon

16. Camp drill in the forem=noon - Brigaid drill in the afternoon

17. About quarters the weather being very pleasant

18. Went on picket west of Camp at Decherd Station

19. Relieved off picket in the morning - and about quarters in the afternoon

20. About quarters in the fournoon. Regtmental drill in the afternoon

21. on fatique duty cutting brush for to cover the unts

22. About quarters all day - dress parand in the eavning

23. About quarters in the fournoon Regt.mentall drill in the eavningÆ

24. on Camp guard

25. Relieved of Camp guard in the morning -got payed for 2 months, went out and relieved Co. D to get thers pay

26. About camp dress parand in the eavning

27. went on picket Southwest of Decherd Station

28. Relieved of picket in the morning - Regt drill in the eavning.

29. About quarters in the fournoon -went to the depo and presented arms to Gen Rosecrans.

30. About quarters in the fournoon - Dress peraid in the eavning

31. On fatigue duty in the fournoon - and on Battallion drill in the eavning - the wather being very nice - We had preaching in the eavning after Sun-set. At Lieut Colo A. Blakleys headquarter.

AUGUST 1863

1. Company inspection in the morning. Brigaid in section in the afternoon

2. went on guard at the Division quartermasters -Stayed all day.

3. We was relieved of guard in the morning -dress ? in the morning camp

4. about quarters in the fournoon - Brigaid drill in the eavning

5. went on picket southwest of camp

6. relieved of picket in the morning about quarters in the afternoon

7. On camp quard

8. relieved of camp guard in the morning - about quarters in the afternoon

9. About quarters - Brigaid dress peraid in the eavning -preaach in ??

10. about quarter in the fournoon - dress peraid in the eavning

11. about quarters with dress peraid in the eavning

12. went on picket southwest of Camp Decherd

13. Relieved of picket in the morning about quartrs in the afternoon

14. on fatigue duty at the depot unloading carrs.,

15. About quarters rain in the eavning -Brigaid dress peraid in the eavning

16. Started at 6 oÆclock A.m. marched to Cows Station, took diner marched over part off the m mountains. 10 miles

17. Marched at 7 oÆclock A.M. marched five miles. Stayed for the night.

18. Went back two miles for wreshions.(rations) Marched 12 miles. To camp between two mountains.

19. Put up our tents, the weather being very warm. The name of the camp -Cave Springs

20. in camp fixing at the tents.

21. about quarters. Civaed our tents, rained in the eavning.

22. About camp through the day. Dress peraid in the eavning.

23. About camp through the day. Brigaid dress peraid in the eaving

24. Went out on a Scout crossed a mountain, got some peaches and returned to camp.

25. About camp. Battallion drill in the eavning.

26. Regtimental inspection in the fournoon. Dress peraid in the eavning.

27. about camp through the day. Dress peraid in the eavning.

28. On fatique duty at Davisions Headquarters. Dress peraid in the eavning.

29. About quarters in the fournoon. Dressperaid in the eavning

30. on camp guard. Got orders to march in the eavning.

31. Had Company muster in the fournoon. About camp through the day got orders to prepair three days cakes, hams and have them in haversacks. And eleven days wreshions in the wagons.

September 1863

1. about camp. Started at 6 oÆclock P.M. marched 8 miles crossing the Ten. River

2. Marched up the Tenn River 10 miles near Bridgeport

3. marched over Coons Mountain and encamped a in a peach orchard . distance five miles.

4. Marched 10 miles crossing the Ala. and Ga. Lines in Dade County, Georgia.

5. went on a Scout at Loockout Creeck. Stoped at a grist mill near a furnace.

6. Biouvauched in the woods and tending the mill.

7. buivauched in the woods. And on fatigue duty in the fournoon.

8. marched ten miles the foot of the Loockout Mountain, I was rear guard.

9. marched over Loockout Mountain and went on picket in the eavning.

10. marched five miles South East - Skirmishing all the way.

11. We had a skirmishing, falling back to the foot off the mountain, Our loss 30 killed or wounded and miss

12. put up fortifications of route. Buivanched in the woods.

13. Went out on a foriging expedidetion. About Quarters in the eavning.

14. On camp quard at the foot of the mountain.

15. relieved of camp guard. About quarter in the afternoon.

16. About quarters the weather being very pleasant.

17. Marched 8 miles past. Buivauching in the woods

18. On camp guard. Marched at 4 P.M. distance 2 miles. On picket at the creeck.

19. Marched East to the battlefield, in the center our regiment supported a battery, on picket at night.

20. Supported a battery. Marched back to Chattanauga Valey

21. tooch a position on a hill southwest of Chattanauga, had a skirmish. Marched in to ??

22. threw up fortifications on a hill on the centre in front off Chattanouga

23. worked on the fortifycations. Threw a fiew shells in the eavning

24. worked on the fortigycations. A Skirmish at 10 oÆclock at night.

25. worked on the fortigycations. Skirmishing at night.

26. About quarters at night. Some Skirmishing through the day

27. About quarters. -a flag of truce up to bring in the wounded.

28. worked on the fortifycations. And brought in the wounded

29. About quarters. Attending the funeral of Leut. A.Leawrey. Quaartermaster of 78th Rgmt

30. put up our tents in the forenoon. Rain in the eavning.

October 1863

1. Went on picket in front of fort Star. Rained all day.

2. relieved off picket in the morning. About quarters in the afternoon.

3. About quarters in the fournoon.policed around my tent in the afternoon

4. On camp guard the weather being very pleasant. The Reg worked on the fortifications

5. On camp guard. The Rebels shelled our camp in the afternoon.

6. On camp guard. The Regt. lay back out off range of the rebel cannon.

7. About camp. The Regt. went on picket.

8. On camp guard. The Regt was relieved of picket in the morning.

9. About camp through the day. Relieved of camp guard in the morning.

10. Off duty. And about camp. The Regt worked on the fortifycations.

11. Off duty and about camp the Regt. on guard at the fort.

12. Off duty and about camp the weather was very unpleasant.

13. About quarters through the day. Went up and took our position in the fort.

14. Went on picket. South East of Chattanooga. And it rained all day and night.

15. Was relieved off picket in the morning. And it rained all day.

16. Worked on the fortifications. West of Chattanooga.

17. On camp guard. And mooved camp a fiew rods north.

18. put up our tents. Rained some in the fournoon.

19. About quarters. The Regt. Worked on the fortifications.

20. About quarters. In the fournoon, mooved camp on the wright.

21. Went on picket at the mouth of West Chickamanghga River.

22. relieved of picket in the morning. Fixed up our tents in afternoon

23. on fatigue duty and it rained all day.

24. carriing brick and building a chimney in our tent.

25. about quarters and only one cracker to eat. We were called out in line of battle at night.

26. about quarters, the weather was very pleasant

27. went on picket on west Chickamauga River and artillery threw some shells.

28. relieved of picket in the morning. About quarters throught the day.

29. About camp throught the day. Some skirmishing on Lookout Mountain.

30. About camp rained some in the fournoon and was very cool.

31. About camp. Putting a handle on my knife in the fournoon. Inspection and muster in the afternoon and the rebels threw a fiew chells of Loockout Mountain in the eavning. The weather was verry pleasant.

November 1863

1. Went on picket on West Chickamauga River. Three small crackers for the day.

2. Relieved of picket in the morning. The rebels threw a fiew Shells at us.

3. About camp in the fournoon. Went to town in the afternoon on a pass.

4. About camp and nothing to eat but some beef.

5. About camp. We baked Slapjacks and made a little beef supe.

6. Went on picket on West Chickamauga River. The rebels Shelled us on picket.

7. Relieved off picket in the morning. About camp through the day.

8. At preaching by Mr. Ervin. Camp inspection in the morning and the Migar inspected.

9. on camp guard at the magors quarters.

10. relieved off camp guard in the morning. About camp in the afternoon.

11. At Chattanooga in the fournoon. About camp in the afternoon.

12. On picket at the Sawling Mill south of Chattanauga. The weather was pleasent.

13. relieved of picket in the morning. About camp through the day.

14. On fatigue duty working on the fortifications west of Chatanauga

15. Company inspection in ? ? preaching in the afternoon

16. About camp the weather was very cooll

17. About camp through the day. Prepared for inspection in the afternoon.

18. Went on picket South of the Camp on Chickamauga River.

19. relieved of picket in the morning. Got payed off for four mon.

20. worked on the fortifications west of Chattanogua .rained in the eavning.

21. Went over to town. The ? ? ? in the afternoon

22. Company inspections in the morning. About camp in the afternoon.

23. Mooved into the eihlefists on the wright mooved to Fort Star in the eavning.

24. lay in fort Star one troops wock Loockout Mountain

25. our troops moved to the left and fighting commenced at 10 oÆclock A.M. our troops charged mission size at 11 oclock P.M.

26. Fighting along the line near the Battleground at Chickamauga.

27. Our troops crossed Chickamauga River. We were in Fort Star.

28. Mooved to camp at 2 oÆclock P.M. Got orders to march ? ? ?

29. Marched (unreadable) marched back with to find picket -went on

30. marched 10 miles south on the top of the mountain and buivauched for the night.

December 1863

1. marched four miles south toock dinner and marched back 6 miles and stayed for the night.

2. marched to Summerville and stayed all night.

3. on guard at a haus in Summerville

4. about camp putting up our tent

5. on guard at a haus west of Summerville

6. relieved of guard in the morning - about camp through the day.

7. worked at our tents. Went on picket in the eavning.

8. on picket through the day. Relieved in the eavning . rained all day.

9. at Chattanuaga on a pass for even meal

10. on patrol guard on Loockout Mountain

11. relieved of patrol in the morning about camp through the day.

12. on picket South west of Summervill and it rained all day

13. Relieved of picket in the morning and about camp through the day

14. about camp through the day -dress peraid in the eavning.

15. on haus guard at Leavchant hous in Summervill -dress peraid in the eavning

16. relieved of guard in the morning. Payed $1.00 for a piece of pone for diner.

17. went on picket Southwest of Summervill the weather being very cold.

18. relieved of picket in the morning. About camp through the day.

19. about camp through the day. The weather being pleasant.

20. about camp guard in fournoon. Company inspection in afternoon.

21. on fatigue duty in fournoon. Went to Chattanaugua in afternoon.

22. On camp guard the weather being very pleasant.

23. about camp through he day. Off duty

24. worked on the fortifications in fornoon. About camp in afternoon.

25. On picket at the top of Lookout Mountain in the fournoon. Took dinner with the Signal corps in afternoon

26. relieved of guard in the morning. About camp through the day.

27. about camp through the day, it being wet

28. went on picket on the South west side of Mount Lookout

29. relieved of picket in the morning about camp through the day

30. worked on the fortifications on the south west side of Lookout Mountain

31. Company muster. And regtimental inspection in the fournoon. About camp through the day. And the weather being verry weet. So endes the year of eighteen hundred and sixty-three. If anyone disputes the truth of what is in this book, he can have his opinion and I will have mine just so that he dose not call me a lire to my face. The End.

Cash Account Amount of maney received frome U.S.

Dec. 8th, 61 $28.00 cts

Mar. 21st, 62, $26.00 cts

Apr. 22nd, 62 $26.00 cts

Jun 22nd,62 $26.00 cts

Dec 5th, 62 $52.00 cts

Feb 27th, 63 $52.00 cts

Apr 22nd, 63 $26.00 cts

July 25th, 63 $52.00 cts

Nov 19th, 63 $52.00 cts