Civil War Diary of John M. Underwood, 121st New York Volunteers, Co. B.
Musician, mustered into service, July 29, 1862, age 20, Litchfield.
Accession #03-0016, Gift of Candace Knapp and Pat Knapp, October, 2003, great-granddaughters of the Civil War soldier.
Sergeant John M. Underwood enlisted in July 1862 and was discharged in June 1866; the diary notations span January through December of 1864. This Civil War diary is inscribed: "Sergt. John M. Underwood, 121st Regt. N. Y. V., Dec. 25th, 1864." The diary was accessioned with a book entitled Soldier-Health: The Union, The Constitution, The Laws. 5th edition by Dr. W. W. Hall. New York: Irving Place, 1863.
Copyright: This collection may be protected from unauthorized copying by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code).
121st New York Volunteers. MUSTER-IN ROLL of Captain Irving Holcomb's Company (B), in the 121st Regiment of New York State Volunteers, commanded by Colonel B. Franchot, called into service of the United States by Proclamation of President Lincoln, from the twenty-third day of August 1862 (date of muster), for the term of three years, unless sooner discharged. For entire muster rolls of the 121st New York Volunteers: http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyotsego/muster.htm This regiment was of the Sixth Corps, commanded by Major General John Sedgwick, the First Division by Brigadier General H. W. Slocum, and the Second Brigade by Brigadier General J. J. Bartlett. C.f. History of the 121st New York State Infantry by Isaac O. Best. E523.5 121st, Mars Vault Collection.
Online sources about the 121st: Brief Historical Sketch of the 121st NY Volunteer Infantry as written in The Report of the Gettysburg Monument Committee of the 121st New York Volunteers Compiled by Lt. Col. J.W. Cronkite, Chairman, on authority of the committee.
New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center, New York Division of Military and Naval Affairs. http://www.dmna.state.ny.us/historic/reghist/civil/infantry/121stInf/121stInfMain.htm
Monument to the 121st NY Volunteer Infantry at Gettysburg http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyotsego/gettysbg.htm
Friday, Jan. 1, 1864
In Camp, near Brandy Station. Cold & very windy; had orders to be ready to move at a moment’s notice, but the order was countermanded. [Hen?] is here with me now, got a letter from House.
Sat. Jan. 2, 1864
In Camp, nothing much a going on; last night was the coldest night we have had so far this winter. Today is very pleasant but cold.
Sun. Jan. 3, 1864
Stayed in camp all day; nothing much a going on; wrote home. Clear and cold; had dress parade.
Mon. Jan. 4, 1864
Stayed in Camp all day; had a snow storm. Snowed all day; tended a [?] of two men from Co. [E?]. Had marching orders, but they were countermanded [?] [*?] days [?].
Tues. Jan. 5, 1864
Stayed in Camp all day; nothing much a going on; pleasant but cold. Had a [rice?] pudding after dinner.
Wed. Jan. 6, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on. Clear and cold.
Thurs. Jan. 7, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on; looks like a storm. Began to snow [just?] at night. [Sam?] took supper with me; had chicken and coffee for supper.
Fri. Jan. 8, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on. Clear, but cold. Capt. Halcomb and [Oren Miller?] took breakfast with me.
Sat. Jan. 9, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on. Pleasant but cold.
Sun. Jan. 10, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on. Pleasant all day [?] home to Emma.
Mon. Jan. 11, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on---pleasant.
Tues. Jan. 12, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on—pleasant. Bought me a flue of [?] gave 6 dollars for it.
Wed. Jan. 13, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on. [Looks] like rain, went up to [Doll? Masehell’s] tent and had quit a sing.
Thurs. Jan. 14, 1864
In camp all day, nothing much a going on. Got a lot of books of [?] to sell, pleasant and warm.
Fri. Jan. 15, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on, had books to sell—pleasant all day.
Sat. Jan. 16, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on. Went off a selling books. Sold 25 today. Pleasant.
Sun. Jan. 17, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, had inspection of the camp. Pleasant.
Mon. Jan. 18, 1864
In camp all day, nothing much a going on. Rainy all day and very [?].
Tues. Jan. 19, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on. Rained all day.
Wed. Jan. 20, 1864
Stayed in camp all day. Very wet and cold. Quiet sick [today].
Thurs. Jan. 21, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, pleasant and cold, sick all day.
Fri. Jan. 22, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on. Pleasant all day.
Sat. Jan. 23, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on. Pleasant all day.
Sun. Jan. 24, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, had inspection. Pleasant and warm.
Mon. Jan. 25, 1864
Stayed in camp all day. Pleasant.
Tues. Jan. 26, 1864
Stayed in camp all day. Warm and pleasant.
Wed. Jan. 27, 1864
Stayed in camp all day. Warm and pleasant.
Thurs. Jan. 28, 1864
Stayed in camp all day. At night, went out to the [?] to [?]. Had quit in time. Pleasant all day.
Fri. Jan. 29, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on. Pleasant all day.
Sat. Jan. 30, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on. Pleasant all day.
Sun. Jan. 31, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on. Had an inspection in afternoon. Very warm & pleasant.
Mon. Feb. 1, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on. At night, went over to the [5th? Maine?]. Wet & windy.
Tues. Feb. 2, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on. My tent mate was [taking] sick. Pleasant and warm.
Wed. Feb. 3, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on. My tent mate is a good better. Pleasant all day.
Thurs. Feb. 4, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on. Pleasant all day.
Fri. Feb. 5, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on. Had dress parade. Pleasant all day.
Sat. Feb. 6, 1864
Had orders to be [ready] to move at a moments notice, but did not go. Heavy [?] in [?] [?]. Wet all day.
Sun. Feb. 7, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much is going on. Pleasant & warm.
Mon. Feb. 8, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on. Pleasant and warm.
Tues. Feb. 9, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on. Pleasant and warm.
Wed. Feb. 10, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on. Got my [?] [count?]. Pleasant but cold.
Thurs. Feb. 11, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on. Got a letter from Etta [Loomis]. Pleasant but [?] cold.
Fri. Feb. 12, 1864
Stayed in camp all day. Wrote home and to a [?] [?] by the [?]. [?] windy but pleasant.
Sat. Feb. 13, 1864
Stayed in camp all day. Had dress parade for the benefit of some young ladies a seeing us. Pleasant all day.
Sun. Feb. 14, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on. Had Brigade [Seven] by Col. Upton. Pleasant but [?] windy.
Mon. Feb. 15, 1864
Went out a selling books to [day?]. Sold 48 books for 35 c[en]ts a piece; made 4 dollars and 80 c[en]ts. Cold and [?].
Tues. Feb. 16, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on. Very cold and windy.
Wed. Feb. 17, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on. Wrote to Ettie Underwood today. Very cold and windy.
Thurs. Feb. 18, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on. Wrote to Ettie Loomis today. Pleasant but very cold.
Fri. Feb. 19, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on. Sent a [Volunteer?] to a [?]. Pleasant but cold.
Sat. Feb. 20, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on. Pleasant & warm.
Sun. Feb. 21, 1864
[?] Seven by Col. Upton. Pleasant and warm.
Mon. Feb. 22, 1864
Had [reveille? or review?] by Col. Upton. Pleasant & warm.
Tues. Feb. 23, 1864
Had [?] by Gen. [Sedgwick]. Pleasant & warm.
Wed. Feb. 24, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on. Pleasant all day.
Thurs. Feb. 25, 1864
Stayed in camp all day. Had inspection by Col. Upton. Pleasant and warm.
Fri. Feb. 26, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on. Pleasant and warm, but very windy.
Sat. Feb. 27, 1864
Left camp about 8 o'clock in the morning. Marched about 15 miles to [? ---?] but [night?] in [?] [fine?] woods for the night. Pleasant & warm.
Sun. Feb. 28, 1864
Left our camping place this morning and marched about [8] miles, then went in to camp, [again?] for the night. Pleasant all day, but looks like rain to night.
Mon. Feb. 29, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on [?] [?] [?] in the [?] [?] in a line of battle all day. Cloudy but pleasant.
Tues. March 1, 1864
In the same place, nothing much a going on. Am now [?] in one of the [?][?] [?] to keep [?] of the [rain?] and snow has it very wet out.
Wed. March 2, 1864
In the morning, started back for [?]. Marched all day [?] [28?] miles; got back to camp about 7'oclock [?] night. Pleasant and warm.
Thurs. March 3, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on. Pleasant and warm.
Fri. March 4, 1864
Stayed in camp all day. Pleasant and warm.
Sat. March 5, 1864
[blank entry]
Sun. March 6, 1864
Stayed in camp all day. Had an inspection in the morning and dress parade at night. Pleasant but [?] cold wind.
Mon. March 7, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on. Pleasant and warm.
Tues. March 8, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on. Wet, this morning, but cleared off at noon.
Wed. March 9, 1864
Stayed in camp all day. Had Brigade dress parade. Pleasant all day.
Thurs. March 10, 1864
Stayed in camp all day. Wet and very nasty all day.
Fri. March 11, 1864
Stayed in camp all day. Very wet and [muddy?].
Sat. March 12, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on. Pleasant and warm.
Sun. March 13, 1864
Went down to brigade [band?][?] this forenoon; had dress parade. Pleasant but windy.
Mon. March 14 through Sun. May 1, 1864
[blank entries]
Mon. May 2, 1864
Broke camp for good this morning. Pleasant but [rather?] windy. Marched on foot 1 mile and then pitched our tents [again].
Tues. May 3, 1864
Stayed in camp all day, nothing much a going on. Showery all day.
Wed. May 4, 1864
Marched all day, made [?] 15 miles. Very warm and nasty. [Crossed?] the [?] about 4 o'clock in the afternoon.
Thurs. May 5, 1864
Marched about 5 miles, then went in to a fight--fought all day. Very warm and pleasant. [Firing] heard most all night.
Fri. May 6, 1864
Commenced [firing] [again] at [?] all a long the line. There is a constant [stream?] of fire, but at night our right flank was turned to the [Rebels]. Pleasant, [?] [?] warm.
Sat. May 7, 1864
Heard heavy [firing] very [early] this morning. At night took [?] the [?] of [?] marching all night to [?] the left and toward Richmond.
Very warm and dusty.
Sun. May 8, 1864
On the march to [?] tho [?] came up within about 11 o'clock; ordered up to the Regiment--the Rebbles opened on us with artillery doing very little damage.
Mon. May 9, 1864
Under fire all day, [near?] our Regiment, [?] up a [?] heavy fireing on [?] [sight?] of [?].
Warm and pleasant.
Tues. May 10, 1864
Was under fire around all day--our Regiment made a charge and [___________?] of hundred [_______?] about 2 [__________?] [Petersburg?] [___________?].
Wed. May 11, 1864
Was under fire [?] all day, went [?} with a wounded man after [________] the Regiment had [____?] at night.
Thurs. May 12, 1864
[Am?] under fire agan all day ... we had some more marching, one [Regiment?] [___?] 20 [____?] of [_?].
Fri. May 13, 1864
[?] under fire agan all day.
Sat. May 14, 1864
[?] under fire [?] all day; our Regiment was surprised to day by the Rebbles but did not lose many men.
Sun. May 15, 1864
Nothing much a going on [?] in Camp; all day the Regiment [?] on picket.
Mon. May 16, 1864
[?] in bunk all day, nothing much a going on. The Regiment came in from the picket. Showery all day.
Tues. May 17, 1864
[?] in camp all day, nothing much a going on; at night [_____?] of march, marched all night to the [sight or right?].
Wednesday, May 18, 1864
[?] under fire all the forenoon; in the afternoon marched [back?] [?] on the left and went in to camp for the night; pleasant all day. Got two letters from home.