This leather bound journal belonged to Samuel Hartman, who inscribed on the second page, “Samuel P. Hartman from Shamokin Dam Snyder Co.”. The first entry is dated May 3, 1864. He writes of marches, taking prisoners, and then of, “a heavy battle on the 12 of May...it heavy loss on bothe sides but the enenmy loss the heavyest our Curnel and lutenent curnel was killed our Captain and first-lutenent was wunded and it was raining all the time thrue that fite 12 of may it was long all thrue that fitein the rain and mud…”. Hartman goes on to say, “May 22 past the house that Stone wall Jackson Diete in after he was wounded” and then on May 29, “I seen Genrel meade”.  The entries continue until June 1, 1864, where he has lists of shoes and clothing items. The one list is from 1865 is labeled, “closing bill” and the cost of each item. He then writes an entry for April 1, 1865 that reads, “6 Corps Broke the lines Before Peters Burg and Drove the Rebs oute of thair works”. He writes of more fighting around Petersburg and then of many days of marching. On April 18 it reads, “it took the army hard when the news came that old abe was dead”. He goes on to tell of Lincoln being buried and then, “ the news came in to camp that Jonson hat serrendert …the camp lid up it was a nice side to see”. The entries for the rest of May tell of marching around Richmond, many days that they “laide in camp”, and then marching on to Washington where he was a participant in the Grand Review under Johnson, Scott and Grant. Many more days came of either marching or idling in camp until July when he was mustered out and could leave for home on the 16^th. Hartman traveled from Washington to Baltimore and then to Harrisburg, PA. On July 21 he writes, “Got payed off and started for home”.

The remainder of the journal appears to be a record of how Hartman kept track of the days he worked as they are labeled, “one day” or, “half a day”. There are some loose clippings inserted as well.

Diaries such as this are a fabulous insight into the daily life of a Civil War soldier.

Samuel P. Hartman was drafted and enlisted on November 5, 1863 as a Private into Co. “E”, 49^th Pennsylvania Infantry. He was mustered out on July 15, 1865 at Hall’s Hill, Virginia. He died on February 27, 1915 at Shamokin Dam, Pennsylvania.

The lined diary itself was published in New York in 1862. Cover is not attached and some pages are loose. Diary measures 5 ½” x 3” x ½”.

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