Small pocket size ledger, 5 x 3”, vertically lined, of brown leather. Exhibits moderate exterior soiling with light wear & chipping at the extremities. Else good plus. All entries in pencil and entirely legible.

Frank W. Robbins enlisted at age 18 as a private in Co. “A”, 42^nd Ohio Infantry, 9/25/1861. He and his company were mustered out on 9/30/1864. His regiment, The 42^nd Ohio, served in the western theater, first in Kentucky, then later with the Union 13^th Corps in the Department of the Gulf. During service the unit lost 59 men killed and mortally wounded and 181 by disease for a total of 240.

Robbin’s diary records in sharp detail the story of a union private trying to rejoin his regiment in the summer of 1864. The tale recorded insights bring to mind Bill Mauldin’s “Willie & Joe” and will ring true with army vets of any era. In Civil War literature, “SI KLEGG & HIS PARD” have nothing on Frank Robbins and his 42^nd Ohio buddies. Here is a slice of “Hurry Up and Wait” army life that got left out of John Billings HARDTACK & COFFEE.

Diary entries begin on May 1 with Private Robbins in residence at the U. S. Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. [Final pages of the diary contain a listing of 31 soldiers, under the following heading: “Names of the Men on the Roll of Ward G, U.S. General Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio, while I was there.”] He makes no reference is made as to why he is there, but hospital life seems no hindrance to an active social life. Despite a “stormy, snowy” May 2 in Cleveland, Robbins manages to go “home this eve with Ella Brown.” Indeed, the general tenor of the early entries indicate that is Robbins is enjoying convalescent life to the hilt, and in no big hurry to return to the 42^nd Ohio down in Baton Rouge. Whatever wound and/or ailment necessitated his transfer to the Cleveland facility seems to have vanished. Reading between lines, one might even suspect him of becoming a bit of a malingerer.

Indeed, someone does. On June 17^th Robbins encounters a suspicious surgeon, and his hospital stay comes to an abrupt end:

“Was marked for a pass today and at office hours (from 10 to 11 am). I went into the Surgeons office to get it extended to Midnight so I could go to the theater. He asked what was the matter with me. I told him nothing. He then took my name, Co., & Regt., & marked me for return to my Regt”--[which does not stop Robbins from a final night out in Cleveland]—“…. Showalter (10^th O.V.C.) went down town with me and we called along at the cribs [cubicles of ill-repute] around the Hay Market. Then rode out Euclid St. to C & P Depot. Drank a good deal of wine and beer. Took ham & eggs for supper. Then went to theater. The play was Camilla, Star Miss Herron. It was the best play and playing I ever saw. Showalter had only a day pass and it just midnight when we got back. He got set up for two weeks.”

On June 20^th Robbin’s begins his hard travels in search of the 42^nd Ohio.

“About 11 ½ Sergeant chambers came around and called the roll of men who were to go at 1 P.M. This was the first notice some had that they were going atall. And I did not think of being sent off so soon. I sent home for $10 as soon as I knew I was marked. But of course it did not have time to come . So I got $10 of Chapman & gave him leave to affix the letter when it came. I hated to leave the boys as I found by a letter Cook rec’d today that the Regt. was not at Baton Rouge but in the field….

About 1 ½ P.M. bade the boys good by and started for the depot. ( I noticed as we left the Hospital that the Ther. Stood 87 degrees in the shade)…. 43 of us, besides a lot the boys who went to see us off. We went without guards and every man took his own way through town. At the depot I took a couple glasses of Ale and after we got on the cars I drank several drinks of Whisky (the first time I had taken any thing stronger t than wine for a long long time)…..at Gallion I took a drink of Ale….”

“every man was present when we reached Columbus and got into the barracks. These barracks are the rendezvous for drafted men, substitutes, deserters, stragglers, and convalescents and have the appearance of a military prison than the place of abode of the Patriotic defenders of their country. The yard was surrounded by a high fence and a chain guard around it on the out side also on the inside and a guard at each barrack. We arrived at 8 ½ P.M., and being sleepy we all turned in pretty quick but it was so awful hot and the barrack so poorly ventilated. And either in imagination or reality the graybacks evolutions combined with the hard beds to which we were unaccustomed prevented most of us from having as peaceful slumbers as we used to have in Cleveland.” [i.e. his pleasant hospital life long gone.]

While in Columbus Robbins managed to drink some gin and obtain cigars, but admitted coming “near to having the blues part of the time. And, his blues are to increase as he and his fellow transients were later shepherded under guard through Cincinnati. Arriving at the infamous “Lytle Barracks”. Robbins noted above one of the doors of this “low dirty building an introduction cut in these words—‘Hell is no name for this place’—below in large capitals was—‘Libby Prison No. 2’. Inside were 29 stands 3 bunks high…..The floor looked like a stable that had been long in use without clearing it out for human beings…..

The smell was not very sweet as the privy was a 6’ x 6’ box built from the ground to the roof and opening into our room which had a 100 men in it. Our dinner was bread and bean soup that I know did not have a particle of meat cooked with it and was not salted. The beans were burnt and hard as shot. I did not eat any……And each meal the steward has vegetables and bologna sent out first to sell. I know we don’t get ½ rations. If any complains he is threatened with ball and chain and is abused as no decent man would abuse a bitch pup. The ball and chain dodge may frighten recruits and such but the boys here now are all old soldiers and know what a man’s power is and at this eve supper there was not so much abuse….

I am glad he didn’t talk to me this morning, as he did to some, for if he had I should have worn a ball and chain for a day or two and he would have worn my mark under his eye for life…..I dread Cairo [Ill.] for if the Bull Pen there is on a par with the City it may be worse than here. This day’s experience has decided me on a subject I had not decided before, viz. Re-enlisting I presume without this experience I should have been in again before long. But now Anything but the army for me after my three little months is up.” {Note: Classic “short-timers attitude. Robbins is well aware that his regiment is due for mustering out in three months time.]

In late June, suffering from diarrhea, Robbins left Cinncinnati by train for Cairo in company with some discharged 1^st Kentuckians who were “drunk as lords.” Stopping briefly in Vincennes, IN, he took a drink of drink thickened with sugar to ease his bowels. His and his mates are still transported under guard, but upon arrival in Cairo his situation improves. After checking at Headquarters, he put in charge of a detail and handles their transportation orders to Memphis. And manages to get himself a drink: “There is strict order against selling a soldier liquor here is Cairo, but I got myself a glass of bitters this morning”. [June 26^th]

Late on the evening of the 26^th, Robbins embarks on the new Steam boat “Maginta” headed for Memphis, TN, in company with 800 members of 122^nd Ill. Infty. The boat was crowded and hot & the trip was an anxious time—“I did not know that I was so nervous as I am, b ut I actually suffered from fear or something akin to it. Any time I heard a noise that sounded the least like a gun shot or a volley…..my heart came into my mouth, almost, and I was so weak I could barely stand alone.”

Robbins finds Memphis a “beautiful place”, though “the Jackson Monument in the center of the square shows marks of rebel vandalism; offensive parts of the inscription having been erased with bayonet. [Robbins use of the semi-colon in the previous sentence, and his vocabulary in general, mark him as an extremely literate and well educated young man.] He reports his “squad” in at Ft. Pickering and attempts to arrange for further transportation down river, which is not easy. He notes that Pickering is garrisoned by black troops, and then lazes around Memphis for the next few days, getting his shoes tacked, and a new pair of drawers & shirts, going to the theater, etc. On July 2^nd Robbins embarks on the Steam Boat Von Phiel bound for Helena, Ark, Natchez & Port Hudson, MS.

On July 5^th the Von Phiel passes Millikens Bend, passes Young’s Point, LA, and arrives in Vicksburg, MS, at 6 am, where he begins encountering random 42^nd Ohio soldiers from companies other than his own. Moving on to Natchez, Robbins becomes convinced that his 42^nd Ohio has “moved on down River to N.O. [New Orleans] and the more so when we got to Morganza and saw the Upper camps deserted…the boat would not have stopped but was signaled and I saw some 42^nd boys and found the regt. was here.”

And so, Private Robbins re-connected with his unit, and spent the remainder of July and August moving with the 42^nd on and off of boats up and down the river in the Natchez/Vicksburg/ Port Hudson area. Spotting rebs here and there, bracing for an occasional attack which never comes, and counting down the days til they can go home. During this stretch, Robbins observes everything pertinent going on around him. Reports on capturing Mockingbirds, which he feed grasshoppers and crickets, though he “accidentally” kills one, for which buys a replacement for 6 cents, and a dime, lugging his bird cage where ever he goes.

On August 14 , Robbins captures the regimental short-timer point of view:

“Nothing important, I believe, except that the boys are counting the time we have to stay here. The talk is now that we will start for Ohio about the 12-15^th of September.

On August 16, he records his shifting position on the question of re-enlistment:

“Parsons and I….talked over the matter of re-enlistment. I told him that I had been thinking of it for some time and that when anyone offered me $1000 to go as a representative or as substitute I should go. And I believe I shall get that before I’ve been home long.” In other words, at this point in the war, if the price was right, and some well-to-do person is willing to pay the freight—[$1000]—Robbins would be willing to rekindle his patriotism. And, he seems to have an inkling of whom back home in Ohio might hire him.

On September 3, the regiment receives some disheartening news:

“Received positive orders that we are to go on an expedition on foot. To take 20 days rations and 100 rounds of ammunition. The boys are feeling rather blue over it as we had expected to start for home on the 12 or 15^th.” Later in the days the 42^nd is ordered aboard the steamer “The Ohio Belle”, with Robbin’s Co. “A” on the larboard bow of the Hurricane Deck, along with several companies of the 87^th Mounted Ill. Infy.”

But, their eventual destination was northward, not southward in the direction of Mobile, ALA. Robbins final diary entry of Sept. 7, 1864, has them arriving at the mouth of the White River at 9 or 10 Am. The heading above the final his final entry [“Mattoon, Ill—Sept 21”] indicates that Co. “A”, 42^nd Ohio headed home on track for its scheduled Sept. 30^th mustering out.

In all, a superb diary, which includes a trove of information on the 42^nd Ohio Infantry, as well the inmates of as Ward G, U.S. General Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio, during Pvt. Frank Robbins residence. Accompanied by documentation. Invites further research.

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