Standard pocket diaries & ledger of the time: [1] “The American Union Pocket Diary for 1864/ Published Annually For The Trade”; [2] “Pocket Diary 1865/ Published Annually for the Trade”. [3] Ledger, undated, n.p. All booklets are in black leatherette w/cover flap & marbled edges. 1864 diary features three dated entries per page, the 1865 diary one page per day, the Ledger standard vertical column lining. Diary & ledger measurements: 1864, 4.5 x 3.25”; 1865, 5 x 3”; Leger, 6 x 3.75”. All booklets exhibit wear & scuffing at the extremities, while remaining completely intact. Interior pages lightly yellowed. Entries mostly ink with some pencil, and all entirely legible. Both diaries begin identically as follows:

“The Property of Sergt. Saml M. Naylor, Co. “K”, 114^th Regt. Pa. Vols. Should I die on the battle field or in the Hospital, for the sake of humanity acquaint my Wife Louisa A. Naylor residing at Somerton 23^rd War Philadelphia , of the fact, and where my remains may be found.”

Naylor was enlisted and mustered as a Sergeant in Co. “K”, 114^th PA Infantry, 8/22/1862, and was mustered out 5/29/1865. His unit, the 114^th PA Infantry, was organized by Colonel H. T. Collis, a wealthy Philadelphia who outfitted the regiment in colorful “Zouave” uniforms popularized by the French Army in the 1850s, which earned them the nickname of “Collis’ Zouaves.” Attached to the 3^rd Corps of the AOP, the unit saw action at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg [where it served in the Peach Orchard near the Sherfy House], and participated in the Bristoe and Mine Run Campaigns of late autumn 1863. In the spring 1864, “Collis’ Zouaves” were assigned to duty as Provost Guard at Army of Potomac Headquarters through March 1865, and reassigned to the 5^th Corps at the close of the war.

Naylor’s diaries reveal him as a well educated, meticulous and highly disciplined individual. He misses no entries between Jan. 1, 1864, and the day he leave the army for home, June 3, 1865. All entries are concise & easily readable, though there is little in the way of combat reportage. Naylor’s company stood Head Quarters Provost guard duty through most of this period, and the events and battles of Grant’s 1864 “Overland Campaign” are seen from a “headquarters” point of view.

Below are his “Wilderness” entries for May 4, 5 & 6, 1864.

May 4—“Broke camp at 4 am to start on a spring campaign. Went with wagon train and at 3 pm was ordered to report to General Patrick [AOP Provost Marshal Marsena Patrick], over at Germania Ford, at which place we arrived at dusk tired and sore. Crossed the Ford on pontoon, one cavalry man died trying to ford it.

May 5—“Struck the Genl’s tent at 4 ½ am, and started with the train, halting at about 10 ½, where we lay till 5 pm. We then went to Regt. To report to Gen’l Warren. Returned to Hd Qrs after dark. Went on guard. The enemy was found and hard fought and driven.

May 6—“The guard moved on to the hill with the gen’l at about 6 am, and lay there all day, doing duty. The fighting continued and was very hard but our forces drove them. Burnside’s 9^th Corps came up and went in on the left. We were relieved from guard at dusk and filed into field to keep stragglers from coming out.”

Battle of Spotsylvania:

May 12—“Got in line about 5 am to move Hd Qrs but did not get off until 9 am. While waiting news came from Hancock that he had taken 2,000 prisoners. One major Gen’l, 2 brigadiers, 14 pieces of artillery. Johnson Stuart & Robinson. Our forces took in all 42 pieces of artillery.

Battle of the North Anna:

May 23—“Started at 7 ½ am & was until 8 pm going some 10 miles, being delayed on the way by Burnside’s train, and had to hike out at almost double quick for some 4 miles & I was tired & sore when we got into camp.”

Battle of Cold Harbor:

June 3—“Lay quiet all day. It was quite dull and misty. Our forces made an advance capturing a number of prisoners & arms artillery. The Rebs mad a dash after some pieces that our boys could get off during the day, but had left some 300 men to guard them. Of course rebs did not get them.”

Siege of Petersburg:

June 18—Lay quiet in Camp. Some very heavy cannonading out front. Several prisoners came in. Recd. A letter from Rus & mailed one back to him. Guard Mount at 5 p.m. A detail went out ot Meade, who was hancock’s Hd Qrs. They want to keep up. Stragglers back at 1 am. 19^th.

Battle of the Crater

July 30—Got up at 2 ½ am & fell in at 4 & stacked arms on the colour line. At 20 min. of 5 the signal gun was fired when there was one continual roar. Blew up a fort with 800 men in it. & only 5 escaped. Our forces took 2 lines of works & a part of the 3^rd.

Naylor’s 1865 diary entries tend to be longer, and include more routine camp detail. Closing entries include the following.

April 2—[Lee’s abandonment of Petersburg] “…The guard fell in at 8 but were sent to their Co.s & for all men to fall in in light marching order. We fell in & went out to fortifications & lay7 there a short time. When were ordered off up to Meade & from there we went to Fort Hell & out ot the works to assist in holding the works taken from the Rebs. We made three runs & succeeded in reaching the Fort held by our forces but done it under a very heavy fire & several were wounded. Two officers & two men were killed. Capt. Eddy wound seriously in the head.

Curiously, Naylor make no mention of Lee’s surrender or Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. Only on April 19^th does he note that “there was a salute fired in honor of our deceased President,” going on to say that the “mail came in about 4 pm. Retreat at sunset. Wrote to Lou” [Louisa, his wife]. On the day of the Grand Review, May 23^rd, he “Got up at 3 ½ am to be ready to move at 5 on Review. After I got ready & the company formed I was ordered to stay in camp and work on the Rolls. I got two done. The boys came back from the Review about 4 ½ pm.” After his unit was mustered out on May 29^th, Naylor proceeded to Philadelphia. via Baltimore. His final entry, June 3^rd:

“Went to camp again about 8 am and lay about for awhile when we went and turned in our arms . About 12 n. we were drawn up & Gen’l C.H. J. Collis make a brief speech and delivered his farewell address. We were then paid off and I went home, walking from Frankford to Bustleton & then rode home with J. Purdy.”

Naylor’s ledger contains meticulous clothing accounts for 23 named soldiers, along with prices--Zouave shirts costing $1.67, turban [three yards] $1.00, zouave jackets $5.25. Knapsacks & haversacks were free. Enclosed in ledger is a yellow tissue announcement of Naylor’s death [at age 73] and funeral.

In all, the Naylor grouping represent a trove of interest for Zouave aficionados and Pennsylvania regimental buffs. Documentation included. Invites further research. [& especially a search for possible Naylor war diaries from 1862 & 1863].

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