John H. Buchanan's Diary

July 4, 1861 to July 9, 1862


 
 
Transcribed by

Larry J. Mardis, PH.D. and Jo Anne Ketchum Mardis, whose ancestors and relatives were in companies A, F and K
of the Second Mississippi Regiment. 

Commanded by Colonel William C. Falkner to April 21, 1862
Commanded by Colonel John Marshall Stone after April 21, 1862
Colonel E.M. Law's Third Brigade
Brig. General W.H.C. Whiting's Division
Major Thomas J. Jackson's Corp
General Joseph Johnson commanding to May 31, 1862
General Robert E. Lee commanding after May 31, 1862

Donated for use here by Tom Childers, past president of the Tippah County Historical and Genealogical Society. 
Copyright (c) 1998 Tippah County Historical and Genealogical Society.

Go directly to Diary

John Buchannan was born in York District of South Carolina on August 4, 1819. In 1833, his family moved to Madison County, Tennessee. After the death of his father, John and his brother, W.R. Buchanan, and two sisters Jane Salinas Buchanan and Sarah Rocinda Buchanan  moved to Tippah County, Mississippi, in 1838 or 1839. John was a blacksmith by trade. He married Elsemere Rogers, who was the daughter of General E. M. Rogers of Ripley. Elsemere, or as John wrote her name Elsie, and John had six chidren. According to the 1860 Census, John was 40 years old, and Elsemere was 29 years old. There were three children at home: Mary, Jim and May. In addition, his mother-in-law, N.E. Rogers, age 53, lived with them. A family by the last name Check lived with John: a 30 year old female with the initial E for the first name, a 12 year old male and two females ages 8 and 3. The 8 year old female was named Elsemere, the same as John's wife. His personnel estate was valued at $9,000. with real estate valued at $2,000. After the war, he moved to Pontotoc and died on May 8, 1886. He was buried in the Blue Mountain Cemetery.
 

John served in the Mexican War as a private in the Second Mississippi Volunteers. Before the beginning of the Civil War, John organized a volunteer company of soldiers in Ripley, Mississippi. This company, the O'Conner Rifles, would become Company B of the Second Mississippi Regiment, Army of Northern Virginia. The Second Mississippi was part of the Third Brigade commanded by General Barnard Bee, who gave Thomas Jackson his more famous name of Stonewall. After the death of General Bee and during the time span of Buchanan's diary, the Third Brigade was commanded by Brigadier General W.H.C. Whiting. During the battle of Seven Pines, they were near Joe Johnson when he was wounded which resulted in the appointment of Robert E. Lee as commanding general. They were in the attack at Gaines' Farm that gave Robert E. Lee his first victory. While at Sharpsburg, the O'Conner Rifles fought in the bloody cornfield. They were with General Joseph Davis' Brigade when it fired the first shots at Gettysburg. The survivors of the Railroad Cut on the first day of Gettysburg were in Pickett's Charge on the third day of Gettysburg. At the battle of Falling Waters, the few that were left fired the last shots of the Gettysburg campaign. In the Wilderness in May 1864, Davis' Brigade held off the Union attack on the Orange Plank Road against overwhelming odds. The O'Conner Rifles survived Petersburg. Most surrended at Hatcher's Run. Few surrendered at Appomattox. Of the 111 men who marched out of Ripley on April 30, 1861, to join the Confederate Army, only four surrendered at Appomattox. One had been wounded nine times. Another had never been wounded or been in the hospital.

John Buchannan kept a diary for about a year from July 4, 1861, to July 9, 1862. The following is a transcription of that diary. Due to water damage, faded pencil marks, poor handwriting skills and poor grammar and spelling skills, an exact transcription may never be completed. Dashes (------) were used when it was impossible to read the diary; however, about 97% of the diary was readable. The diary was transcribed as accurately as possible. Spelling and grammatical errors were left unchanged.

Included in the transcription of the diary are notes of what was happening to the Confederate Army in Virginia and to the men of the Second Mississippi.

When Mississippi joined the Union in 1817, the northern third of Mississippi was controlled by the Chickasaws. The Treaty of Pontotoc Creek in 1832 ceded the northern part of Mississippi and opened the land to settlement. Out of the land ceded by the treaty, 12 counties were organized including Tippah County. In 1836 or 1837, Ripley was organized as the county seat. Ripley and Tippah County were organized less than 30 years prior to the beginning of the Civil War.

Most of the settlers in Tippah County were of English decent. Farming was the primary trade. By 1860, of the 22,517 residents of Tippah County, 6,311 were black or about one out of four. In 1860, Tippah County produced 20,327 bales of cotton, 814,625 bushels of corn and 58,049 bushels of wheat.

With concerns regarding succession, military units were established in 1858. W.C. Falkner was appointed a Brigadier General: however, due to stringent provisions of the law, only four companies qualified as military companies in the entire state. In December 1859, the legislature appropriated $150,000 for the purchase of arms and equipment. By May 1860, the Military Board had accepted enough companies to allow the organization of two brigades: one in the north part of the state and one in the south part of the state. The North Mississippi brigade was commanded by James H. Chalmers of Holly Springs. The first regiment of the brigade was commanded by Captain John H Buchanan. On January 23, 1861, after Mississippi succeeded from the Union, the legislature reorganized the Army of Mississippi and named Jefferson Davis as Major General. After Davis was elected as President of the Confederate States of American, Earl Van Dorn was appointed as commander-in-chief.

There were four companies in Tippah County in early 1861. Two were in Ripley, the O'Conner Rifles with Buchanan as Captain and the Magnolia Guard with W. C. Falkner as its Captain. The O'Conner Rifles was named for a New York lawyer, Charles O'Coner, who was a staunch and vocal States Rights Democrat. O'Coner defended slavery as a divinely ordained institution and maintained that the Federal Government had no right to coerce any State. After the war, O'Coner defended Jefferson Davis against the charge of treason. Charles O'Coner spelled his name with only one "n."

The other companies were based at Salem, the Joe Matthew Rifles and the Salem Dragoon. Salem no longer exists. It was located 5 miles north of Ashland west of Highway 5 in Benton County. Joe Matthew served as Governor of Mississippi in the early 1850's [1848-1850] and was from Salem.

Before Fort Sumter in April 1861, the O'Conner Rifles had approximately 50 men on its muster roll. When the O'Conner Rifles and the Magnolia Guard gathered on the Courthouse Square on April 30, 1861, to march to Saulsbury, the O'Conner Rifles had 111 men. Mrs. Green presented the O'Conner Rifles with a silk flag. Once at Saulsbury, Tennessee, the O'Conner Rifles boarded a train to Corinth. At Corinth on May 3rd, the O'Conner Rifles along with several other companies were organized into the Second Mississippi Volunteer Regiment with W.C. Falkner as it Colonel. Bentley B. Boone was elected as Lieutenant Colonel, and David Humphreys was elected Major. Dr. J.Y. Murry, who was a former sheriff of Tippah County, was appointed as surgeon. Lawson Hovis was Adjutant. The companies of the Second Mississippi were:

Company A, Tishomingo Riflemen, from Iuka commanded by Bentley Boone

Company B, O'Conner Rifles from Tippah County, commanded by John H. Buchanan

Company C, Town Creek Riflemen for Itawamba County, commanded by William C. Bromley

Company D, Joe Matthew Rifles from Tippah County, commanded by William D. Beck (who was an uncle of Nathan Bedford Forrest)

Company E, Calhoun Rifles from Saltillo, commanded by John. F. Boothe

Company F, Magnolia Guard from Tippah County, commanded by William C. Davis

Company G, Pontotoc Minute Men from Pontotoc County, commanded by Hugh R. Miller

Company H, Conewah Rifles from Pontotoc County, commanded by Samuel H. Taylor

Company I, Cherry Creek Rifles from Pontotoc County, commanded by John Herring

Company K, the Iuka Rifles from Tishomingo County, commanded by John M. Stone.

Company L, the Liberty Guards from Ripley, Commanded by Robert Storey was not organized until March 5, 1862, and did not join the Second Mississippi until April 6, 1862, at Fredericksburg, Virginia.

There was not a Company J.

From Corinth, the Regiment traveled by train to Lynchburg, Virginia, where on Wednesday, May 10, 1861, the companies drilled until noon. After lunch, they were mustered into the services of the Confederate States of American by a Major Clay. The enlistment was for 12 months, and the men obtained a bounty of $50.00 for joining. A total of 932 men, exclusive of officers, was sworn in as members of the Second Mississippi Regiment. 

From Lynchburg, the Second Mississippi took the train to Strasbury via Charlottesville and Manassas. They marched the 18 miles between Strasbury and Winchester and boarded a train to Harpers Ferry.
 

While at Harpers Ferry, the company went about learning how to be soldiers. A typical schedule was:

5 A.M. Reveille
5:30 Squad Drill
6 Surgeon's Call
6 Breakfast
7 1st Guard Mounting
7:30 Guard Mounting
8 Squad Drill
10:30 Camp Drill
1 P.M. Dinner
3 Camp Drill
6 Dress Parade

By May 31st, many were sick with 13 cases of measles reported. Only 34 men of the O'Conner drilled. An Inspector General's report stated the Second Mississippi were badly clothed and "very careless in its appointments. The officers are entirely without military knowledge of any description, and the men have a slovenly and unsoldier-like appearance."

By June 14th, 69 of the 105 men of the O'Conner Rifles were fit for duty. The rest were sick. Around June 19th, the Second Mississippi was placed in the Third Brigade commanded by General Barnard Bee. The Third Brigade consisted of the:

2nd Mississippi
11th Mississippi
4th Alabama
1st Tennessee Infantry
Imboden's Battery

Harpers Ferry was abandoned. It could not be successfully defended. By July 4th, the Third Brigade was in Darksville, Virginia, waiting on an attack by General Patterson of the Union Army. The attack never came.

July 4th is the starting date of John Buchanan's Diary.



Major John H. Buchanan's Diary

Spent the 4 of July at Darksville 5 miles from Martinsburg heard the Federals firing a salute of 33 guns returned to camp near Winchester on the 7th.

7 o'clock July 10th ordered to cook and strick tents destination not known

July 16h General Paterson 3 mile this side Bunker Hill advancing 4 o clock all the forces ordered out the 2 Regt thrown out on the left flank lay on our arms all night rained some.

July 17th on the field awaiting the aproach of the Enemny sent one man from each mess to get breakfast. Returned to camp at 4 o clock the enemny reported in 5 miles advancing

Note: The O'Conner Rifles did not have a mess hall similar to the ones found in today's army. Small groups of men, generally 5 to 8 men, were considered a mess and were responsible for cooking their meals.
July 18th 12 o clock tents all struck except 2 for the sick everything in confusion- all layng about loaff waiting for orders to march cleaned the campt, etc. 3 O gone in the Direction of Manassas Junction

July 19th ------------------- got breakfast forded the river at 11 o clock on our way to Manassas Junction Marched last night until 1 1/2 O lay down on the rocks and slept till about day arrived at piedmont on the RR at 9 O c day down without super or Blankets hard rain at 11 O got about the cars at 2 a.m. got to Manassas 9 1/2 O no breakfast left for Bull run 11 O on July 20th

July 21 cannonading by the Enemny conmenced at 7 1/2 O we march to the center of action immediately
 

Note: General Bee marched the Brigade to the sound of the battle without orders. The Brigade, including he Second Mississippi, marched to the fierce fighting at Buck Hill on the left flank of the Confederate Army. After holding off a superior force, they retreated behind Thomas Jackson's men who were on Henry Hill. The Third Brigade was rallied by Generals Joseph Johnson and P.T.G. Beauregard. By 2 P.M. Falkner had the Second Mississippi in line left of Thomas Jackson's troop arriving just in time to keep the 49th Virginia Regiment's left flank from being turned. About this time on Jackson's right, General Bee was giving Jackson his new name of Stonewall while leading the 4th Alabama and some Mississippians. The only Mississippians on that part of the battle field were members of the Second and Eleventh Mississippi. The fighting did not end until late in the day when the Union troops were routed. The following is a partial list of the wounded from Company B

John T. Torn[Thorn]- mortally
Lieutenant John. N. Scally- severely
Allen Talbert- severely
Henry T. Webb- severely
Rose Byrn- severely
Alex D. Wolf- slightly
Mathew Knox- severely
Allen W. Livingston- slightly
Benj F. Thompson- slightly
Robert E. Davis- slightly
Sergeant John C. Lauderdale- slightly
Thomas Peters Seargeant
John Grace

About 1 out of every 10 members of Company B was a casualty.


July 22nd rained all day terrible times Dead bodys all round us

July 23 moved out to the batte ground

July 24th W.C. Rogers leaves for home today 9 1/4 I am now on the spot where Thomas Peters Seargeant & John Grace were shot 11 1/2 o clock at Sudleys Church 35 miles from Washinton 250 of the wounded enemny saw an arm cut of Price Williams Co Several of the boys came up from Winchester

July 25th still on the Batteground 3 o clock moved to Bull Run and encamped in the woods

July 26th wrote home today heard from my wounded boys all doing well

27th Lt. Hovis and Col Daniels leaves for home today Hovis cannot get of

28th Sunday nothing of of importance up to 9 o clock

29 nothing of notice today

July 30th Rev JJ----- left camp for home this morning my company ordered erect a stone on the spot where Genl Bee fell fired 3 rounds Gen Whiting commanding
 

Note: General W.H.C. Whiting was a native Mississippi and a graduate of West Point. He had the highest grade point average of any West Pointer until Douglas MacAuthur.


31 Dr Cox arrived here last night nothing of note occured to day

Aug 1st Dr Cox left for home this morning C F Dry with him rained tremendious today drew pay
 

Note: John Buchanan was paid $130.00 per month as a Captain. Lieutenants were paid $90.00 per month.


Aug 2nd nothing of note to day

Aug 3rd Revile at 3 1/2 O clock orders to get brakfast and pack up to move took up line of march at 7 O clock for Broad Run near Bristo on or near Rail Road arrived at Camp at 11 O

Sunday Aug 4th a beautiful morning only 29 men report for Duty this is my Birth day 42 years old had apple tarts for Dinner

August 5th General policing in camp to day I am officer

August 6th finished policing camp this morning nothing of note this morning

Aug 7th all calm in camp to day I am field officer of the day nothing of importance got a leter from my dear wife this morning

8th Just came of --- the weather very warm no Excitment in camp tremendrous rain

9th nothing of notice to day fruit arrived last night

August 10th no Excitment no drill the boys washing

Aug 11th Sunday weather very warm and cloudy rained a litte

12th cloudy damp day no Excitment

13th nothing of notice to day rained rapid

14th 9 o clock heavy cannonading in the Direction of Bull Run orders for no man to Leave Camp

Aug 15th 9 o clock heavy cannonading in the Direction of Leesbury the weather fine & pleasent

16 Every thing still to day no new from the cannonading yester I am field officer of the day

17th wet clouday day no news Every thing quiet in camp

18th Dark cloudy & rainy no Excitment -- Alsbrook discharged at yesterday paper at H Q to send after today

Aug 19th Still cloudy & raining no Excitment in camp

20th Alsbrook left for home this morning no Exitment in camp got letter from home

21 all quiet in camp weather fine our uniforms came to day

22 J L Woods Discharged leaves for home to day must write a leter by him

August 23rd J L Grace and M H Sanders discharged to day Every thing quiet in camp

24 No excitment A Brown left for home this morning L B H J W H I G B & S N Talbott gone to the Batte field

25th Sunday I went out to the the country to day J L Grace and M H Sanders left for home Dischaged to day no Excitment in camp

August 26 nothing of note to day W Seargent will start home on furlongh tomorrow got a leter from home to day

27 nothing of note to day cannonading in the direction of fairfax

28 No Excitment in camp

29 Raining all day reported fight yesterday below fairfax

30th the camp in a stir orders to cook 3 days rations & be ready to march at a monment notice orders countermandered before 12 o clock Brigade Drill in the Evening

31th no Excitment to day making out Musters Rolls

Sept 6th noting occured up to date

7th nothing

8 "

9 "

10 "

11 "

12 a little fight on or near the Potomac our forces --- Capt Davis arrived from home

13th I field officer of the day orders to cook 2 days rations an be ready to march at a moments warning cooked untill midnight

14 Morning still at Camp Jones cannonading on the Potomac

15 nothing

16 Heavy cannonading East at 9 o cock 2 o clock orders to cook one days rations immediatly all cooking now orders march at 4 1/2 AM next day

Sept 17 O Davis in camp leave for home on the morning of the 18th took home 1507 dollars and fifty cts the Regt left Camp Jones for the Potomac at 4 1/2 AM struck camp 3 miles NE of Dumpheries at 1 1/2 p.m. 64 men & officers
 

Note: O Davis was Orlando Davis who was a judge in Ripley and was on the committee that drew up the Mississippi Articles of Succession. Orlando Davis also kept a diary during the Civil War. The diary was reported to have been burned in a house fire.
19th Camp Hill cannonading at 7 1/2 O clock this morning Heavy Cannonading in the direction of fair fax & Halls Hill firing at Sundown

20 heavy fierce cannonading in direction of Hall Hill John G C--- up to day Scalley gone home on furlough 45 days from 16th Sept
 

Note: Lieutenant Scalley had been severely wounded at Manassas in the arm and side by a piece of shell. He has three ribs broken and was discharged from the hospital on August 4th. He was re-admitted to the hospital on September 9th for jaundice. In April 1862. he was discharged at the time of re-organization.


21 all quiet to day Except a litte cannonadning towards Halls Hill

22 Sunday all quiet to day as yesterday

23 heavy cannonading towards H Hill saw the Patomac to day twice field officer of day Riding around late orders to cook one days Rations and be Ready to fight in the morning

24th no Excitment to day all still in camp

25 Courtmarshial 14 cases before the court cannonading at the River no word from the cannonading

Sept 26th all quiet this morning Court Martial to day I president 14 cases before the court not one from my company

27 Cloudy & rainy all quiet Cole Moody gone to see Jim Cox at Warrenton

28 Fine clear day all quiet

29 Sunday fine clear moning J J Guyton left for Ripley sent 200.00 on to Elsie by him Every thing quiet in camp

30th nothing of notice to day

Oct 1st the weather is fine and Every thing quiet weather fine all quiet untill night March at 9 o clock 2 miles toward the Potomac with one blanket apeace bivoiuce in an old field at 12 o clock

2 nd returned to camp at 8 o clock I field officer of the day

3rd weather fine very warm all quiet in camp

Oct 4th --- --- then clear and warm no Excitment 12 o clock the camp in ------ orders to be ready to march at a moment notice 2 o clock took up march out 1 mile ---- in an old field remained there till after sundown and marched back to camp

5 nothing of importance to day ---- Capt Davis ---- --- 50.00 on ---- ---- --- Recpt

6th Sunday all quiet --- in the ---- --- --- ---

Oct 7th all quiet this morning

8th heavy storm last night recieved our things yesterday evening cloudy and cool to day all quiet in camp Heard cannon firing this morning towards Manassas

9 Cannonading served this morning on Courthmartial fine weather cold and cloudy

10 weather cool cloudyon Genl C M ------

11 still on Courtmartial weather fine & clear --- ---- to day

Oct 12 Saturday the day clear and fine heard but 2 guns to day Still on CM Col F starts o meet his wife to morrow

13 Sunday Preaching twice to day all quiet Col F. gone to meet his wife weather fine

14 the morning beautifull all quiet 3 o clock cannonading toward fair fax still on Genal Court Martial Members of the Court

Col Pender 6 N.C. Regt Lt Col Holdman 1 Tenn Vols Maj Butler 11 Miss Vols Maj Humphries 2 Miss Maj Canon H Legean Capt King 4th Ala Capt Buchanan 2 Miss Vol Cap Miller Capt Kirkland 6 N.C.
This court conviended on the 9 inst

Oct 15th Morning fine clear pleasant 10 o clock the cannonading commenenced and continues heavy and brisk all day all round us

16 the cannon at the River around us this morning by day light Brisk firing no Execution have on either side that I have heard of yet

17 Cannon firing all throught the night the morning cloudy firing all day still on C.M.

Oct 18th 1861 C.M. still going on cannonading occasionally the weather warm and pleasant

19 Brisk cannonading at the River all the morning from 10 to 11 very fierce 2 Schooners captured

20 morning clear & cool Boxing up Extra baggage to send of to Fredericksburg

21 cannonading nothing heard from moved from Camp Fisher to Camp Palmer to day
 

Note: Camp Fisher and Camp Palmer were near present day Dumfries, Virginia.


Oct 22nd rained all day nothing of interest occurred to day

23rd nothng of interest to day still on CM

24 the weather fine froze this morning went down near the river this Evening Capt Miller & King with me visisted the house where Col Williams Washington was married in Saw a grave stone 1695 Liet Harris a Britian still on CM my Co on picket to morrow

Oct 25th Camp Smith Broke up camp at Camp Plamer moved to the or near the 6 NC - - & picked tents for the night

26 Nothing of interest to day

27 M N Coltharps & A W Fringston [probably Livingston] left for home this morning. Sunday the weather clear and pleasant by order the camp is called Camp Fisher R E Delancy started home last night at 9 o clock Sent a leter by him
 

Note: There was a process started to get unfit men out of service. For example, Matthew N. Coltharp was discharged "...unfit for service due to stomach problems." His discharge papers were signed by Buchanan, Falkner and Major General Smith. Robert E. Delancy, who was 32 years old six foot in height with light complexion, light hair and blue eyes, was declared unfit of service on October 25th due to Bright Disease of the kidney and infection of the bladder. He has also been slightly wounded at Manassas by a piece of a shell. Many of the previously listed men, who Buchanan stated was going home, were discharged due to health reasons. Joseph A. Norton was discharged on October 26th. His discharge papers state, "... has not done a days services since enlistment and is wholy (sic) unfit for duty because of physical inability." This physical inability was bronchitis. His discharge was signed by Buchanan and Falkner.


Oct 28th the weather clear and fine a little cook heavy cannonading up to 12 o c continued all day

29 weather clear & fine cannonading all day

30 beautiful morning all quiet up to 8 o c I field officer of the day

31st beautiful morning it being the last day of the month the company muster and drew pay for July & August

Nov 1 1861 Moved back to old camp Fisher the weather fine cannonading at the River Co D gone on Picket at River

2nd storm all night & up to 12 o c wind blowing hard & raining ---- fly of my tent torn in to we about go on picket to day

3rd cloudy issued 41 blankets drew 10 axes and 6 spades

4 weather clear and cool CM reassembled this morning no Excitment M H Norton started home sent 4.00 to home

Nov 5th weather cool & cloudy no Excitment the Confederate flag prsented to the Ret on Regt Parade the Chaplain was called on and offered up a fervent prayer for our flag arms & the J C
 

Note: During the Manassas battle, P.T.G. Beauregard had difficulty distinguishing units because of the many different types of flags and uniforms. He decided to have one battle flag. The flag presented to the Second Mississippi had Manassas across the top. By the time that the flag was captured at the Railroad Cut at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863, Gaines Farm, Seven Pines and Malvern Hill had been added to the flag. The flag was captured by Corporal Frank Wallar of the famous Iron Brigade (6th Wisconsin). Corporal Wallar was awarded the Medal Of Honor for capturing the Second Mississippi Battle Flag from Private W. A. Murphy of Company A. That flag is in the Archives in Jackson, Mississippi.


6 Cloudy Early in the moring fair at 10 now at CM

7th Weather clear & fine no Excitment still on CM
 

Note: Several soldiers were court marshalled for desertion. One soldier, a William Joslin from Company K, was fined and returned to duty. Private Joslin was later captured and died as a prisoner of war on Christmas Day 1862.


8 Went down to Invernse Port Bivouached for the night & Returned to campt next morning took the dimentions of the English gun 8 feet long 7 1/2 in in diameter of ---- Saw 9 Steamers 8 above and 1 below ----

9th 9 1/2 O I now in Dumphries one of the oldest towns in VA W R Cole died this morning rained this evenings

10 Sunday heavy frost the day fine all quiet

11 all hands making chimmeny Brisk Cannonading at the River

12 1 1/2 O I took up line of march to meet the Enemny at the Occuquian Stopped back of NC Camp staid until after night and marched back to camp

13 Morning clear and fine Brisk canonading all round orders to cook up all Rations all quiet up to 11 O c nothing of importance

14 Morning cloudy Brisk firing about F---ton point Schooner Caipler rained all Evening no movement of importance

15th Morning cloudy May H and I out on a reconort ---- Expedition 1 OC now at Lieut R--- awaiting Dinner

16 the weather cloudy and disagreable no move of any importance Brisk canonading in the Direction of Occuquian Mr Holcomb & T.C. Spright arrived in camp this Evening

17 no Excitment to day clear and cold

Monday 18 morning clear & find no Excitment to day

19 Morning clear and fair went to Dumphries with Mr Holcomb all quiet in camp

20 heavy cannonading at the River looking to make trouble any moment

21st morning clear and fine no Excitment

22 the morning beautiful and pleasaent H H Livingston started home this morning no Excitment to 12 O

23rd Rainy in the morning clearing of at 11 O a beautiful after noon no Excitment

24 Morning Cloudy & cold Clearer of about 11 O day pleasant but windy Report says fighting this week on this line

25 Snowed last night commienced building winter qtrs today no Excitment none than cannon

26 Building huts marched at 2 1/2 to the Stafland farm Skimmished a little & march to camp

27 one company going out to cut a Blackade the county about Rankier cloudy soon in the morning snowed & rained in the Evening Cos A & B marched at 6 o clock Bivouacednear Daefs Hale farm

28 Now at Daefs Hale Farm loading 3 waggons with Irish Potatoes 10 o clock I now sit in full view of the Potomac a splender farm and magnificent view breakfastes on roasted potatoes at 11 o clock marched back to camp

29 worked on winter qtrs no Excitment

30th weather cold in the morning cleared of quite pleasant

Dec 1st weather cool & cloudy heavy cannonading at the River this morning

2nd cold and cloudy Capt Davis starts home this morning snowed this Evening Rapid

3rd Clearn & Cold Snow on the ground working on qutrs

Dec 4th morning clear & cold no Excitment

5th clear & pleasant work on qtrs strong talk of a fight soon

6 the weather fine Built my chimmey to day no Excitment

7, 8 & 9 the weather remarkable fine & pleasant but little Excitment

10 Warm and pleasant sharp firing at the Rive got a letter from Elsie T J Polloack starts home in the morning

Dec 11th weather fine moved into winter quarters to day every thing quiet

12 ground froze hard this morning but the day pleasant no Excitment

13 weather fine no Excitment

14 Day fine & pleasant W W Coombs died this morning 9 O clock no Excitment
 

Note: W. W. Coombs died of Corebritis.


15 Sunday morning beautiful ----- at 10 o clock all quiet in camp

Dec 16 Day fine and pleasant no Excitment heavy cannonading in direction of Centreville

17 The weather fine Brisk Cannonading in the direction of Mannassas no Excitment just red's a letter announcing the death of L G Gosset on the 15th at Warrenton Hospital

18 weather fine field officer of the day to day there cirtionly was a fight across the Occaquan to day tremdious firing in that direction

Dec 19 Morning fine & pleasant no Excitment

20 Cloudy but pleasant no Excitment

21 clear & Cold drew money to day C A Ford died to day no Excitment
 

Note: Charles A. Ford was listed as sick in a private house near Winchester on May 10th. His death was due to "disease of the heart." His personal items were listed as:

1 carpet sack 1 revolver 1 cap
4 pr. drawers 1 tin cup 1 knife
1 pipe 1 song book 1 comb
1 roundabout 2 flannel shirts 2 cotton drs.
1 pair boots 1 overcoat 1 quilt
1 blanket

These personal items were being sent home by the way of Manassas, but were probably burned when Manassas was burned in December 1861.


22 Sunday the weather cold not excitment heavy cannonading at the River

23 Rained and snowed to day no Excitment

24 Clear & Cold no excitment ---- ---- ---- morrow

Dec 25th on out post on the ----- 12 miles from fairfax & 6 miles from Ocaquain

26th came Duty Post to day the weather pleasant no Excitment

27 cold as scissors JB Hovis started home to day on 50 furlough no Excitment

28 clear & cold al quiet to day is Saturday

29 weather clear & pleasant

30 th 31 Weather moderate ---- cloudy mustered day 95 men out

Jan 1st 1862 the morning most beautiful warm and pleasant no Excitment Kimbell and Webb starts home to morrow

2nd clear & cold finished our kitching to day had order to be ready to march at a moments notice

3rd weather cold & cloudy sleeting at night no Excitment finished our itchen to day G W Whitington & G W Scalley Discharged first Jan will start home in few days
 

Note: George W. Whittington was discharged on January 4, 1862, due to chronic diarrhea. He re-enlisted on February 17, 1863, at Hickory Flat. He was again sent to the hospital on May 24, 1864, and was in the hospital on February 19, 1864. As a prisoner of war, he was discharged at Holly Springs on May 31, 1865.


4th snowing to day & cold as scissors got p wood to day Whitington to start home tomorrow wrote a letter to my Elsie to night

5 Sunday weather cold ground covered with Ice Snowed at night No Excitment

6 Monday Cold & Cloudy no Excitment G Whitington started home this morning

7 Tuesday morning clear and cold all quiet

8 Cold but clear in the morning rained at night all quiet

9 Cloudy Raining a little in the morning clear of in the Evening

10 Warm and cloudy all quiet in camp

11 warm and cloudy no Excitment

12 Sunday quite warm cannon firing at the River Mrs Falkner to start home tomorrow all quiet in Camp

13 Cold & Cloudy Mrs. Falkner started home this morning Bot 20 lbs of Butter at 60 cents all quiet in camp

14 officer of the Day Snowed 3 inched deep last night very cold all quiet in camp

15 Raining & freezing the trees bent down with Ice No Excitment in Camp

16 the day clear and pleasent all quiet in camp the Snow melting Rapidly the Ice all off the trees

17 weather cold clear in the morning cloudy all day

18 cloudy & raining no Excitment

19 Rained all day went to Dumphries to see John Hall found him Deranged

20 Cloudy & terrible muddy in command of Regt Col Stone. Made FO of the day nothing -----

21 still cloudy & raining colder this morning snowed at night

22 cold & cloudy a little snow on the ground officer of the day no Excitment

23 still cold and cloudy Cole Moody left for home to day no Excitment
 

Note: William C. Moody asked for an appointment to the hospital on May 24, 1861, and was listed in apothecary. He was elected as Second Lieutenant during the re-organization on April 21, 1862. On July 3, 1863, he was wounded and captured during Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg. On August 2, 1863, he was in Baltimore as a prisoner of war and was transferred to Point Lookout on March 14, 1865. He had complaints of a right leg problem.


24 cloudy in the morning snowing 3 OC PM stedly at night brisk firing at cookpit at sundown report that ----- bought out of his enlistment

25 snow on the ground weather cold quite cold the camp on picket at outpost yesterday I ---- --- this in mail day I shal look for a letter from my Elsie

26 Sunday the dayquite pleasant no Excitment got al letter from Elsie last night

27 Cloudy but pleasant no news --- --- --- --- --- on -------

28 --- -- --- cleared of in the evening G W Scally --- Evening field officer of the day

29th morning cloudy cleared of at noon very pleasant G W Lee died last night of Pneumonia
 

Note: G.W. Lee was a 21 year old farmer when he enlisted. On June 30, 1861, he was listed as sick. He died of pneumonia.


30 Drisling Rain all day Jim Hovis stars home in the morning got a letter from my Elsie to night no Excitment in camp

31st Cold and Cloudy J M Hovis left for Mississippi this morning with the remains of Gwo W Scalley & G W Lee Cleared of at 11 o clock no Excitment in camp
 

Feb 1st 1862 snowed last night the ground covered with Ice & Snow this morning still cloudy an looks like snow or Rain

2nd Sunday cool & Cloudy nothing on interest going on

3 Snowed last night and all day to day Snow 6 in deep E P Bratton arrived last Evening I am field officer of the day had a rough ride

4 Clear Snow melting fast Building centry Boxes no Excitment

Feb 5th Clear and Cold ground froze hard thawed a litte on top all quiet in camp

6th Clouding & Cold raining is freezing some Rapid firing at Cockpits --

7 Morning clear and find snow still on the ground no Excitment

8 Cloudy & Raining some camp in a stir on the Reenlisting question
 

Note: The Confederate Legislature had taken action to strengthen the Confederate Army. Most of the men enlisted for 12 months, and these enlistments would end in the near future. The bounty and furlough act gave every soldier who re-enlisted for 3 years or the duration of the war a $50.00 bounty and a 60 day furlough. In addition, a re-enlisted soldier could chose the arm of service desired. If he was displeased with his company, he was allowed to joined another company. On the re-enlistment of the army, the men could elect a their own officers, probably rewarding those who curried favor by laxity, and punishing those who had enforced discipline.


9 Clear and Cold ground froze hard at night fixing up to start home

10 Clear and Cold 29 men furloughed and started home left camp at 3 1/2 o clock started at Brentsville
 

Note: John Buchanan probably re-enlisted and got a 60 day furlough. Accompanying Buchanan to Ripley were Colonel W.C. Falkner and Sergeant Augustus L.P. Vairin.


11 Got to Brenlotsville at 10 o clock arrived at Bristoe at 6 - O left Bristoe 10 1/2 arrived at Orang CH 7 stopped at the Exchaing Hotell 9 1/2 O night Pianno playing over my head had a good super the Boys all gone on

12 9 O clock now at the Exchange at Orange aim to leave at 11 for Richmond arrived at Richmond 5 O C 9 1/2 O clock telegraphed at O Davis we wanted be at Saulsbury Sunday Morning 10 Now at Mrs. Haswoon the gals playing the pianno the Boys singing

13 left Richmond at 5 1/2 O this morning the weather very pleasant missed the connexion lying over at Lynchburg stopped with Mrs. Dixon Hotelele all full slept in the parlour very kindly treated

14 Left Lynchbury at 8 1/2 in a special train of Box Cars very much crowded the weather cool & cloudy arrived at Bristol at 4 o clock

15 left Bristol at 5 o snowed all day fell 6 inches deep cars ran of the track at 3 oclock 6 miles from Knoxville Detained till night. now at Lamarr House

16 Sunday morning at the Lamar House wont leave till one 1/2 O arrived at Chatanooga 10 O lay over all night report our forces ---- near Nashvill

17 now in chatanooga great Excitment Info posted the federals have Nashville the citizens of N arriving on Every train thought that my train will leave for Memphis to day the nost miserable day I ever spent late Reports more favorable left chatta 8 1/2 O train ran off traveled only 40 miles all night

18 10 o clock at Huntsville the Road covered at every depot got to Sausbury 10 O at night

19 left Saulsbury early got home at 4 O found all well
 

Note: Saulsbury, Tennessee, was the closest train station to Ripley. Saulsbury was on the Memphis to Charleston Railroad and is located about 20 north of Ripley.


20 Morning cloudy some Excitment about the Fort Donalson

21 Morning clear and cold dull day in Ripley

22 Rained all the fore noon conciderable crowed in town but no Bobby for the war

23 Sunday a beautiful morning

24 clear and beautiful recruiting slow

25 clear & cool everything dull

26 Now in the CH Election of the officers in Capt A C Ruckey Co JWP Holaday 1 St R C Delaney 2nd ST H Manning 3st named Tippah Rifles Capt J Murry W G Pegrants 1 St J W Morrow 2nd ST G W Wright 3 rd ST Name Tippah Rangers

27 Morning clear and fine all quiet no news enlisted 3 men to day

28 clear and pleasant

March 1st clear and warm mustered in 5 Recruits to day

2nd cloudy Rained hard now at C W Humphreys had a good dinner

3rd cold and cloudy snowed some got 2 recruits

4th cold & cloudy dull place in Riply Rained in the evening took supper at M Young ----

5th clear and cold J W Hovis left for camp this morning enlisted one man to day

6th Cold & cloudy snowed last night

7 Clear and pleasant Enlisted 4 men to day

21 left Ripley yesterday at 10 Oclock got to Saulsbury at night now waiting for train left Saulsbury about 10 oclcok reached Cornith all safe

22nd now at corrinth cant tell when we will leave left Corrinth

23 Left Corrinth at 12 O night Run up to Burnsvill & staid till morning

24 Left Burnsvill 8 O got to Steveson 11 night

25 at Stevenson tore down a grocerry had a general Row no one hurt got to Chatanooga at night

26 3 O Clock stile at Chatanooga Ramained all night

27 Left Chatanooga at 7 OC the Col gone on I in command got to Knoxville at 7 30

28 Stayed at Knoxville all day

29 Left Knoxville at 7 O staid all night at Limestone

30 got to Bristol at 12 M & left immediately walk to Abington and staid till night Runs off the track at or near Glade Spring Station

31 9 oclock trying to get the Engene on Engine tender & 4 cars run of left G Springs at 7 o cl

April 1st 1862 got to Lynschbury at 5 o Evening

2nd left Lynchburg at 10 O'C - got to Danville at night lay over tile 12 O Run --- --- standed

3nd standed 15 miles from Richmond had to --- the train into got to Richmon 1 1/2 O left Richmond at 4 arrived at Fredricksburg at 8 1/2 stayed all night

4 got into camp at 8 O C all Right

March 5 All quiet in camp Raining all morning

Sunday 6th Morning Clear and fine a good many going to Church at Fredricksbury I will stary & write to my Elsie

7 morning cloudy snowed rapid in the Evening Dr E H Hunt arrived in camp this Evening
 

Note: It appeared that civilians could travel to the front lines by train. It also suggested that travel between Ripley and the O'Conner Rifles was perhaps a frequent event. Dr. Hunt lived in Ripley and, after the War, asked for diaries to complete a regimental history of the Second Mississippi. For some reason, his plans were not completed. His wife donated Augusta Vairin's diary to the Mississippi Archives in Jackson in the early 1900's.


8 ordered the Cols Qtrs at one this morning Revelle at 3 OC Struck tents at 7 marched at 8 marched 9 miles & bivioued

April 9 Marched to ---- Station and took the cars for Ashland Rained all both days & all night arrived at Ashland at Sundown took qtrs at the Race ground

10 Cloudy in the morning cleared of at 12 O heard this Evening that Bourgard was Driven back to Corrinth

11 Clear & cold new that our arms was victorius at Corrinth

12 clear & cold still at Ashland move out into camp on the Race ground this Evening

Sunday 13th Cold & cloudy had preaching at the Race ground
 

Note: General McClellan had spent the winter organizing the Union Army. His plan was to capture Richmond by landing troops on the peninsula east of Richmond. He had more troops and was better supplied than the Confederates. The only problem with the plan was that McClellan was afraid to fight. The O'Conner Rifles and the Second Mississippi participated in the battles of Seven Pines, Gaines Farm, and Malvern Hill. They were also sent to help General Jackson during his Valley Campaign but stayed about 2 days before returning to the peninsula campaign.


14 Struck tents at 12 O cleared the camp at 1 1/2 marched 10 mile and Bivouaced 1 1/2 mile from Hanover CH

15 Marched at 6 1/2 made 19 miles camped in New Kent Co

16 Left camp at 6 1/2 marching due south Riched camp at 6 1/2

17 Left camp at 5 O C crossed the Co Line at 8 in to Charles City Co

Friday 18 left camp at 6 1/2 Marched 21 miles yesterday marched throught Williamsburg & Rested 40 minutes piched camp near Yorktown 6 1/2 OC cannon firing --- at Sundown

19 camped near Yorktown cannon firing constant reported SKimmish yesterday
 

Note: This was the same Yorktown where the American Revolution ended.


20 Sundy cold wet day noting of interest

21 Rained all day reogranizing the Regt for Col 1st Ballot Stone 329 Falkner 302 Miller 124 2nd Ballot Stone 445 Falkner 410
 

Note: This was actually the second election of officers. The first was held on April 11th but was thrown out. John Buchanan was elected Captain in both elections. Evidently, he was well thought of by his men.

Colonel W.C. Falkner was bitter over his defeat, which he attributed with some reason to his strict ideas of discipline. He resigned from the Confederate Army and returned to Ripley. In July and August 1862, he recruited a regiment of cavalry known as the First Mississippi Partisan Rangers. He commanded the regiment until October 3, 1863, when he resigned citing ill health. This Partisan Ranger Regiment was needed because, after the Battle of Shiloh, Ripley and the surrounding area were constantly being fought over. Neither side controlled Northeast Mississippi. Orlando Davis' diary reported that Yankees visited Ripley 61 times during the Civil War. Ripley was burned by Union soldiers.

John Marshall Stone was the Captain of Company K, Iuka Rifles. Colonel Stone would lead the Second Mississippi through out the rest of the War. He was wounded at Sharpburg and Gettysburg. He was known as a hard-headed, hard-fighting commander. He was acting commander of Joe Davis' Brigade during the Wilderness Campaign in May 1864. The Davis Brigade, which included the Second Mississippi, stood against the Union force on morning of May 6th giving Longstreet's Corp time to reach the battlefield. This stand against tremendous odds was Davis' Brigade and the Second Mississippi's finest hour. After the War, Stone returned to Iuka and became a 3 term governor. The 1890 Mississippi Constitution was written while he was governor. He, also, served as President of Mississippi State University.

Hugh R. Miller was a lawyer from Pontotoc prior to the Civil War. He was the Captain of Company G. His discharged papers listed "Superceded" by election as the reason for the discharge and was signed by Governor Pettus. Miller returned to Mississippi and raised a regiment. Miller and his 42nd Mississippi Volunteer Regiment joined Davis' Brigade.


22 Cloudy in the morning --- --- --- Humphries elected Lt Col Blair Capt the Regt in great confusion

23 --- clear and fine evening thing in confusion transfetted 10 men to Co L the old officiers fixing to start home

24 clear and cold Hovis, Scalley & ---- fixing to get of home heaving firing along the line

25 Cloudy Hovis Scalley and Counsielle left for home this morning no new of -------

26 cloudy & Raining & cold got a letter from home ------------------

27 Sunday cold ---------------------------Yorktown -----------

28 Cold & Cloudy saw the Yankees ---- ----- ----- ---- gone to ------ ------- C A ----- courthmartial today

29 Clear in the morning Cloudy in the evening got a letter from my Elise to day no Excitment in Camp

30 cloudy and raining this day 12 mos ago left home had a muster to day 100 men out fixing Parr Burnett & Wolffs paper for discharged cannon firing rapidly along the Lines

May 1st Cloudy & Cold heavy firing all along the lines reported fight at Dam No 2 orders to be ready to move at a moments warnings late in the Evening still in camp

2nd now have all packed up and the baggages all gone Revelee at 3 O C this morning dont know where we are going left camp at Sundown marched 1 mile out the Williamsburg Road stacked arms & lay all night
 

Note: The Second Mississippi remained in the Third Brigade with the Fourth Alabama, Eleventh Mississippi, and Sixth North Carolina. The Brigade was commanded by Colonel E.M. Law. Brigadier General W.H.C. Whiting commanded the Division. Whiting's Division was a part of Major General Thomas J. Jackson's Corp.


3 moved at daylight into the woods & had Breakfast Petailee field officer of the day still in the woods drew one days Rations of flower & Bacon cooked it without any C untensills

4 Called into Line at 12 O last night ordered back in the woods 1/1/2 called out at 4 again & marched toward Williamsburg at to WB at 11 Marched at one Bevouacked orders at Sundown to be ready to move at a moment

5 camped near Williamsburg had a litte skimishd with fed Forces at the fortification 2 miles from town 2 of our side reported killed Revellie at 1 O left Camp at 2 Rained from the time we started till 12 O marched 13 miles a stopped and made fires dried ourselves moved on 6 mi Bivouac Rained all day & night
 

Note: General Joseph Johnson had the Confederate Army in retreat towards Richmond. The fight at Williamsburg by the Confederate Army was a delaying action.


6 Morning clear & fine still at Camp 3 miles west of West point fight at Williamsburg yesterday Repulsed the Enemy we had killed & wounded 100 took 12 peaces of artillery 2 O ordered into lin to meet the Enemy 4 O now in line of Battl awaiting orders report say the Enemny are landing forces at West points Reported Skimish with the pickets. moved back 1 1/2 mile Bivouacked for the night got no rations to day

7 10 O clock now on the intended battefield hear scatering shots 11 OC a fight going on Rapidly beteen us and the River Several killed & wounded numbers not known

8 left camp on Picket at 2 o marched 14 miles camped near the Ramon Key River weather fine nightly cold now baking corn bread without sifting Eat nothing but parched corn since yesterday morning.

9 slept all night last night weather fine still at Camp at 11 1/2 O C guns stacked & Ready to fall in and move at a moments notice moved of at one O marched 21 miles a litte Skirmish between our rears & the advance of the E

10 weather warm 3 O called into line in the woods to meet the Enemy Said to be advancing our Right to be depolyed as Skismishers. took up line of march at 6 1/2 O marched 3 miles & Bivouaced for the night

11 Sunday clear and beautiful the Enemy reported within 3 miles of our rear J A Seargeant been missing 3 days

 
Note: James A. Seargeant was found. He was listed as wounded on August 31, 1862, at South Mountain. The wound was to his hand, and he was returned to duty on November 12, 1862. In May 1863, he was in hospital with pneumonia and stayed until, at least, the last of August. He was listed as absent without leave on October 31, 1863. On June 2, 1864, he was again wounded and sent to the hospital. A seven day furlough was given on December 30, 1864. He was captured at Petersburg on April 2, 1865.
12 Clear & fine drilled the Recruits in the 1st lesson of SKirmish Drill field officer of day at Sundown to night 2 OClock orders to pac up ready to move in a moment moved 1/2 mile north & camped

13 in bivouac the Enemny said to be in a few miles of us lay still all day

14 still at the old camp heard the Enemy Drums this morning 8 1/2 oC ordered in to line and marched out 200 yards stacked arms remained unto 9 1/2 left guns stacked and marched back to Bivonac with orders to remain Ready to form in a moment stayed all day & night

15 Rained all night slowly raining this morning heard firing all night by the Picketts no new took up line of march at 10 O crossed the Chickahomony & bivouaced for the night Rained all day and all night stopped at 11 O

16 in bivouaced on the chickahomeny still Raining orders to move at 10 this morning left camp at 10 1/2 clearing of warm at 11 marched 5 miles & Bivouaced at 5 1/5 O

17 Morning clear & fine no orders to move cleared the camp at one took up camp at 3 O in the worst thicket out in sight of Richmond

18 Sunday all quiet in camp weather warm

19 field officer of the day no new had a good time running out the guard line Rained in the morning all quiett in camp

20 clear all day Rained at night making out pay Rolls

21st cloudy in the morning cleared of at 10 company on guard finished Rolls

22 morning clear & pleasant all quiet in camp quite a squall in the Evening

23 morning clear & pleasant fierce cannonading in the Direction of the Chick a homeny at quarters to 2 O clock

24 Raining Brisk Cannonading this morning Early with ---- Heavy Cannonading yesterday in the same direction Balloon seen firing continues all day
 

Note: A Private Hankins of Company E in the Confederate Veterans reported that he watched a balloon shot out of the air by a Confederate cannon. He remarked that it was the second greatest cannon shot that he witnessed during the war. He never wrote what the best cannon shot was.
25 Sunday clear & pleasant all quiet in camp Burnett & Parr left for home at 3 o clock to day sent $100 by Parr

26 clear and find all quiet in Camp this morning 3 O clock orders to cook 2 days rations Ready to move any monment called out at 10 clock to night Raining rapid before the Co was formed orders to go to bed & march at Sun up in the morning

27 Still in Camp Rained all night & sill Raining cleared of at 12 orders to move 4 o Clock 4/12/ under arms Ready to move any moment stayed all night at Camp

28 Clear & fine Camp in a stir after morning drill loaded the waggons at 5 o clock Regt marched at 7 marched about 10 miles bivouacked 6 miles north of Richmond after marching till 3 o clock

29 8 1/2 o clock in bivouac Expecting to move any moment Remained all day & night

30 to up line of mach in the Direction of Richmond at 7 1/2 stpped 2 miles north of Richmond in a beautiful grove near some fortification Genal McCelland said to Relacating Genl Jackson Reported to be crossing the Patotmac into Maryland at Williamsport Tremendious thunder and Rain Storm continued nearly all night

31 Cloudy & looks like rain ---- 1 day ham bread & Bacon to be Kept in Haversack for a march left campt at 8 O clock for the Chickahomney 1 1/2 O Clock cannonading about a mile in advance The Genls stiring Briskey got into the fight 4 O clock fought till after dark Several of my men wounded & missing numbers not Known
 

Note: This was the first day of the Battle of Seven Pines. On the part of the battle line occupied by the Second Mississippi, the fight was mostly an artillery engagement. The Second Mississippi had 5 men killed and about 30 wounded. The O'Conner Rifles was near General Joseph Johnson when he was wounded by a rifle ball and a shell fragment. Robert E. Lee was appointed to replace Johnson.


June 1st terriffic fire going on at 8 1/2 O clock the 2nd Miss to support the Tenn Briggade firing continued until 10 1/2

2 called up at 3 O clock but got to bed in a few minutes again and slept until daylight Eat a sanck and left camp in direction of Richmond marched to within sight of the city and turned back went to our camp of night before turned and went back toward Richmond & stopped stayed all night Rained during the night

3 left camp at daylight and marched down in front fo the Enemy's lines stopped in a woods the Enemny threw some shell at us soon as we stpped 20 minutes after 9 O Clock a Balloon up viewing our forces looks to be a mile of

4 lay all day in wood Rained all day nother occurred of any importence

5 thing as yesterday firing commended Rapid at 9 1/2 oc clock on both sides until 10 1/2

6 a large force of the Enemny crossed the Chichahominy last night Cloudy & Drisling Rain this morning My Co Deployed as SKS in front of the Regt within 300 yds of Enemny Sks left our positions at dark and marched back on the Richmond Road

7 3 miles from Richmond prospects good to rest a day or two

8 Early this morning a brisk firing commenced in the Direction of the Chick we went soon on the march for the place went two & half miles & Returned to camp I being very sick in the Evening I went back to old camp north of Richmond

9 Rested well last night & feel much better this morning

10 Still at old camp Rained all night last night and to day

11 Rec orders to pack up ready to move at once Early in the mornig 5 O now at the Danville Depot 2 Rets of the Brig gone we will leave for Lynchbury by sundown 8 o Clock on the cars left at 9 1/2

12 arrived at Farmvill at 10 o clock got to Lynchburg at Dark

13 Sundown lay here all day now called into line to take the cars ordered to Rest in place

14 Left Lynchburg at 12 O last night got to Charlotsville at 8 stopped at the univeristy stayed all day & night

15 Left Charlotsville at 4 O ran through a tunell 7/8 mile 20 minutes in the tunnell got to Staunston at 10 1/2 marched out 2 1/2 miles and cammped

16 all still all day the weather cool

17 still in camp near staunton all quiet

15 left at 7 O in the dirction of Charlotsville lay at the foot of the Blue Ridge

19 crossed the B Ridge marched to within 10 miles of Charlotsville Cooked 3 days ratins
 

Note: General Whiting had advised General Lee about sending his brigade to help out General Jackson in his Valley Campaign. When Whiting's Brigade arrived, Jackson told Whiting to return to Richmond. When Whiting returned to Richmond, he complained that Jackson was crazy and was unfit to lead an army. Whiting was probably upset at be terse way Jackson addressed him and ordered him to return to Richmond without an explanation. Jackson's troops returned to Richmond almost a quickly as Whiting's troops.


20 took the cars this morning for Charlottsville Kept this car to ------- Hall 16 miles from Louisa C.H. My Co on Picket 3 1/2 miles on the Richmond Road

21 on pickets the weather fine & pleasant

22 Sunday lay still all day near Fredrick Hall

23 Marched at daylight in the directin of Hanvover CH

24 Near Beavercane Station Rained all night marched 14 miles yesterday camped 7 miles from Ashland cooked all night

25 ordered to move at sunup & countermander marched at 7 got to Ashland at 2 O and stopped to rest the Enemy Reported within a mile of us

26 Marched at day light in Direction of Hanover CH crossed the Cen RR & turned in the directin of Richmond

27 Near the Chickahomany Rapid firing at daylight ceased at 7 O 3 O clock rapid cannonading now toward Chck 5 O clock preparing on the seane of action got into the fight at 6 had 9 men wounded
 

Note: This was the battle of Gaines Mill. A.P. Hill's men were hanging on in a difficult battle. Whiting was ordered to march his men to the edge of the woods where Hill's men were engaged. General John Bell Hood's and Col. Evander Law's Brigades entered the battle. General Whiting wrote that when his brigades arrived, "Troops were skulking from the front in a shameful manner, the woods were full of troops in a safe cover from which they never stirred." "With a yell ... Spite of terrible obstacles over ditches and breast works, hill, batteries, and infantry, the division swept routing the enemy from their stronghold... So closed the battle of Gaines Mill, the troops sleeping on their arm in the position so hardly won." Near the end of the battle, Whiting detached the Second Mississippi to the extreme right to open fire on the retreading enemy. He later reported that the Second Mississippi, Colonel J.M. Stone, was skillfully handled by its commander and sustained severe losses. In General Lee's report, he speaks of these troops as, "A veteran brigade, distinguished for good service from the beginning of the war in Virginia." Gaines Mill was Robert E. Lee's first victory. The Second Mississippi had 21 men killed and 79 wounded.


28 stay on the battefield all night moved at 3 O in the morning Returned to our old position after Sunup Moved slowley forward down the Chick in direction of RR.

29 Sunday morning cloudy drew nothing but cracker last night nothing of much interest to day bring in prisoners all the time

30 left Bivoucae Before day time moved down the Chick 1 mile & crossed on the Road made by the Enemny turned down the River & marched to 14 mile post on the Williamsburg Road turned on the Right Keeping on the West side of the Chick. we are now under the Range of the Enemny cannon. Since 3 1/2 O clock near sundown stopped 7 miles from James River stayed all night

July 1st Started Early this morning in pursuit of the Enemny past camps & all Kinds of governments stores went on until about 12 O when we came up with Enemny and had a shapr Engagemnt which lasted untill 5 O clock 5 1/4 but Little firing now 6 o firing Rapid & Continious till after dark
 

Note: This was the Battle of Malvern Hill. The Confederate had approximately 5000 casualties. The Union position was on a hill and had several batteries of artillery plus artillery from Union boats. This artillery fire was deadly to the Confederates. The Second Mississippi was shelled for several hours. The Second Mississippi was spread over a wheat field and some were under the bank of a small creek that offered protection from the shelling. One man was killed and ten wounded from the Second Mississippi during the Battle of Malvern Hill.


2 withdrew into woods a mile back and drew rations Rained very hard up to 10 oclock lay here all day & night

3 moved out into the field learned that the Enemny had crossed James River turned & marched back in the woods & stacked armes moves on in Direction of James City

4 marched in the Direction of James City at day light about 12 --- ---- the Enemy Hear some firing in advance stopped within 1 mile of thes lines lay all night

5 moved back a cross the field & stacked arms stayed till dark moved forward to the front Co F & E thrown out as Skirmish pickets wrote aletter home this evening

6 Sunday morning weather fine nothing happened last night

7 still on the line no move of any imprtance the hotest day I ever felt

8 moved Back 11 miles toward Richmond hot

9 14 miles from Richmond cooked one day Rations marched toward Richhmond stopped for the night 6 miles from Richmond stayed till morning

10 Reached our old camp North of Richmond at 11 o clock
July 9 moved 6 miles north of Richmond on the 7th 8 O clock we have orders to cook 2 days rations a move antisipated
 

At this point, Buchanan stopped writing in his diary except for entries on August 29th, September 14th, September 17th and November 7th.
August 29 2nd Batte of Manassas fought on the 29th and 30th J - Ranker G W Rookout [William G. Bookout] WC davis Killed on the 29th L Bell J B H Coltharp & JJ Crum mortally wounded A G Smith S L Cooker & M R Boshwich [Bostwick] Killed on the 30th C Whtton wounded on the 29 & Died

Sept 14 Battl of South Mountain fought V A Grace S C --- & J M Aryes taken Pris

Sept 17th Batte of Sharpsburg foght H H John Killed W M Talbot & J R Roberts missing

Nov 7 2nd and 11 Miss Rets ordered to report at Richmond left Culpeper onthe 8th lay at ---- station till the 9th took Cars got to Richmond that night camp on Brookrun & put in Genl Joe Davis Brigd
 

The next several pages of the Diary did not give day to day details of the movement or weather. Evidently Buchannan used it to keep track of some of the wounded and the killed. He must have also kept a bank for his men.


L G Gossett Effects
5 shirts
over Coat & ------
2 prs pants
4 pr drawers
1 vest & 1 prs sock
3 blankets

Due M N Coltharp on sail of clothing 12.35 sent to him by Hovis

M L Jackson paid 20.00 to J C Jackson paid

J W Gossett paid 20.00
----------- 70.00
A Talbott Pd 40.00

G R Sims to Carr 2.00
J W Hovis to amt on Settlement 6.82
JJ Buchannan pd 17.00
C B ash $15.00
Allen Talbott pd 10.00
J A Norton pd 5.00
J M Jovis pd 20.00

Feb 10 J N Scaller pd
postage stamps 14.60

JM Buchannan pd 17.70

Mondy Deposited

to Suggs X 10.00
J H Parker
amt paid for hauling offds from ------- 22.50

Do to Springer amt given me at his Death 10.00

Money paid Back

B S Meadow Sent to Richmond returned 5.00
" " paid to J W Hovis 5.00
A Richie 20.00
" " 10.00
R E Delany
Cash sent home by Guyton 76.00
" " to -------- 50.00
B S Meador to Cotran 10.00
" " Talbot 5.00
J H Parker to 20.00
" " 10.00
Nov 22 J N Whithead paid cash loaned 5.00
J H Bynun Paid
to Cash Loaned 5.00
H L Webb to cash 20.00
 

Money Deposited May 1863 by A Richie
In Confedeate notes 12.00
in gold 27.50

Money Deposited
J N Whitehead paid 30.00
J R Seargeant loaned 10.00
J C Rowel
Beef 4.20
cattle 15.00

W G Rutlege 20.00
J J Whitton 10.00
L D Holcombe 10.00

End of Diary


According to the roster of the Second Mississippi, John Buchanan was wounded and captured on the July 3, 1863, as part of Picketts Charge at Gettysburg. On July 5th, he was a prisoner at Greencastle, Pennsylvania. On September 29th, he was transferred to Baltimore. He was exchanged on March 3, 1864, and was present for the March/April 1864 Second Mississippi roll call. When he returned to the O'Conner Rifles, he was listed as a Major with the promotion date of July 3, 1863. He was shot in the left hand in August and was the hospital from August 23 to August 29, 1864. His little finger on his left hand was amputated at the 3rd metacarpal bone. On August 24, he received a 30 day furlough. For the roll call on December 27, 1864, he was listed absent without leave in Tippah County, Mississippi. He resigned from the Confederate Army on January 14, 1865.

Roster of the O'Conner Rifles as mustered into the Army of Mississippi on March 4, 1861

Captain John H. Buchanan
First Lieutenant Lawson B. Hovis
Second Lieutenant Davis Humphries

Sergeants- Augustus L.P. Vairin
Henry T. Counseille
Thomas J. Duncan
John C. Lauderdale
David A. Burnett

Corporals- John W. Scally
James W. Hovis
John W. Parr
William M. Tate

Privates-

John L. Boyd            William T. Mallory
William R. Buchanan     John W. McDaniel
James M. Cox            Ben S. Meador
B.H. Coltharp           John T. Norton
William W. Coombs       Henry H. Powers
Cyrus Davis             James C. Rowell
Robert E. Delaney       Albert Richey
Pascal C. Eddings       Walton G. Rutledge
John L. Grace           Allen G. Smith
Virgil A. Grace         William B. Spight
John W. Gossett         Wilburn Sergeant
Levi S. Holcombe        Henry W. Smith
David T. Hill           John T. Suggs
John E. Hovis           John T. Thom[Thorn]
William L. Jackson      James M. Whitten
Gilbert B. Kimball      Henry T. Webb
Jesse H. Lewellen       Robert M. Young
John N. Leatherwood
Henry Livingston

Roster of the Company B Second Mississippi as mustered into the Confederate Army in Lynchburg, Virginia, on May 10, 1861

Captain John H. Buchanan
First Lieutenant Lawson B. Hovis
Second Lieutenant John N. Scally
Second Lieutenant Henry T. Counseille

Sergeants Augustus L. P. Vairin
James W. Hovis
Thomas J. Duncan
John C. Lauderdale

Corporals Bardley H. Coltharp
John W. Parr
Levi S. Holcombe
William Tate

Privates

Samuel C. Adams        Gilbert B. Kimball
Joseph Alsbrook        Matthew Knox
James Asbury           John W. Leatherwood
James T. Barnett       George W. Lee
W. James Bennett       Jesse H. Lewellen
Michael A.P. Blackwell Henry H. Livingston
Joseph S. Boyd         William C. Mallory
Miles J. Braddock      John W. McDaniel
Perry G. Braddock      Green McCarley
Joseph M. Bratten      Lewis McDonald
Joseph Brown           Trussie B. McKay
John T. Buchanan       Benjamin Meador
Daniel A. Burnett      John D. Milet
Hugh L. Byrn           William C. Moody
Lucas H. Byrn          John A. Moore
Rose Byrn              Thomas H. Nance
William M. Cochran     Alexander Neely
W. M. Cochran          Daniel Noonan
Matthew N. Coltharp    William D. Nonner
William D. Coombs      Joseph A. Norton
James M. Cooper        Miles A. Norton
Robert T. Cooper       Joseph B. Parker
John H. Cotton         Amos J. Pegram
Wlliam N. Davis        Henry H. Powers
Robert E. Delaney      Thomas A. Prince
Charles F. Dry         John H. C. Ray
Pascal C. Eddings      Albert Richey
Grandison Fewel        Luther A. Richey
Andrew F. Fleming      James C. Rowell
Isaac Fryar            Walter Rutledge
John W. Fryar          Wilburn Sergeant
Joseph J. Glenn        M. H. Saunders
John W. Gossett        James J. Simpson
John S. Grace          George R. Sims
Virgil A. Grace        Allen G. Smith
Isaac N. Gray          Byrd B. Smith
James F. Guyton        Harvey W. Smith
Joseph J. Guyton       William B. Spight
Peter Hammerschmidt    Joseph Suggs
Terrel S. Harris       Allen Talbot
David J. Hill          John F. Thom [John T. Thorn]
Joseph E. Hovis        Benjamin F. Thompson
Martin C. Hovis        John E. Van Hook
E. Newton Hunt         Henry T. Webb
William L. Jackson     Vincent A. Whitchey
Ranson Jenkins         William C. Whitten
William D. Jones       Alexander D. Wolf
John C. Kelly          John S. Woods
                       Robert M. Young
 

From the recruiting trip to Ripley in February 1862, the following were enlisted in Company B.

C. Heddon              G. P. Holcomb
W. M. Norton           R. L. Short
J. N. Sergeant         W. H. Cowan
R. Y. Bennett          J. C. Lancaster
L. M. Gray             S. Lancaster
W. R. Carter           W. C. McGowan
J. W. Carver           J. O. Nance
L. Bell                G. B. Kimball
W. A. Thomas           R. L. Miller
L. Smith               J. C. Green
W. C. Munday           W. G. Booker [Bookout]
E. Smith               T. J. Yancey
J. C. Coltharp         L. C. Guyton
J. A. Allen            T. J. Culp
L. Lett                J. A. Riley
R. A. Nelms            L. Wells
J. M. Ayres            J. Murphy
W. C. Norton           C.H. Ory
J. Winborn             Laz Pearce
J. M. Robertson        W. H. Talbot
J. Springer            J. H. Glidewell
William Gray           D. D. Dacy
M. K. Saunders         B. L. Crum
H. H. John             M. P. Boyd
M. K. Bostwick
William R. Box
 
 

Other who enlisted in Company B after May 10, 1861, but were not in the listment from Ripley in February 1862

W. G. Blackwell        W. R. Cole
S. L. Cooper           E. L. Crum
J. G. Crum             T. Goldsmith
Littleton J. Gossett   William R. Gossett
W. C. Graham           William Gray
J. W. Hamilton         M. C. Harris
C. Heddon              C. W. Humphries
W. C. Lee              J. T. Martin
W. D. T. Miller        W. C. Norton
Will Osborne           P. G. Pegram
W. M. Richey           G. Roberts
T. J. Saunders         G. W. Spight
M. Sweeney             John P. Ticer
Zeneth E. Vernor       J. N. Whitehead
J. J. Whitten          George W. Whittington
 

Of the men who were enlisted in Company B during the Civil War, the following list died either killed in action or died of wounds or disease.

Lawson B Hovis         Thomas J. Duncan
John C. Lauderdale     Bradley H. Coltharp
William Tate           James Asbury
Michael A.P. Blackwell Joseph S. Boyd
Joseph Brown           William D. Coombs
John R. Cotton         William N. Davis
John W. Gossett        Terrel S. Harris
Ranson Jenkins         George W. Lee
John W. McDaniel       Trussie B. McKay
Thomas H. Nance        Joseph B. Parker
Amos J. Pegram         Thomas A. Prince
Allen G. Smith         John F. Thom
L. Bell                W. G. Blackwell
W. G. Booker           M. K. Bostwick
William P. Boyd        W. R. Cole
S. L. Cooper           J. G. Crum
Littleton J. Gossett   William Gray
L. C. Guyton           H. H. Johns
W. D. T. Miller        W. M. Norton
L. S. Pearce           J. M. Robinson
T. J. Saunders         R. L. Shorts
J. Springer            M. Sweeney
J. J. Whitten          J. Winborn
 

Out of 184 members of the Company B, 50 died either killed in action, died of wounds or died from illness.

The Roll of Honor was the Confederate's way of recognizing bravery. One person from each company was to be recognized after each signal battle.

The following men from the Second Mississippi were placed on the Roll of Honor for the battles of Seven Pines, Gaines Farm and Malvern Hill:

Seven Pines-

Private John H. Cotton,* Company B
Sergeant R.A. Roberts, Company C (He was killed at Gettysburg.)
Private J.H. Walker, Company D
Sergeant James McCully, Company E (He was killed at Sharpsburg.)
Private J.B. Smith,* Company F
Private W.E. Manahan, Company G
Private Franklin S. McKinney,* Company H
Private William Joseph Sims,* Company I
Private Thomas D. Hampton, Company K
Private J.A. McAlister, Company L

Gaines Farm-

Private W.J. Key, Company A
Private A.J. Pegram,* Company B
Private William Bell,* Company C
Private J.P. Lewis,* Company D
Private Joseph Compton,* Company E
Private R.L. Northrop,* Company F
Sergeant Richard Drake, Company G
Private A.C. Mars,* Company H
Private J.M. Scott, Company I
Private Thomas D. Hampton,* Company K
Private W.H. Bryan, Company L (He was later killed at Sharpsburg.)

Malvern Hill-

Private W.J. Key, Company A
Private J.H. Parker,* Company B
Private J.A. Atkins, Company C (He as killed at Suffolk, April 25, 1863.)
Private J.L. Ralph, Company F. (He was killed at Sharpsburg.)
Corporal T.J.S. Cooper, Company G
Private A.K. Roberts, Compang H
Private Hillery Andrews, Company I (He was killed on August 29, 1862.)
Private J.M. Moore, Company K
Corporal J.M. Ward,* Company L

*Killed in Action

Start of Diary

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