Standard leather covered diary of the period. Worn leather flap embossed in gold “DIARY 1864.” Front cover is missing exposing first page that is inscribed in pencil “J. H. Bradley, Co. G. 2^nd C.V. A. Fort Ellsworth.” A calendar and almanac for 1864 take up the first few pages. The diary starts on January 4, 1864, the day Bradley enlisted, and runs through to February 22, 1864. He writes almost every day. Most entries are short, all are written in pencil and are fairly easy to read.

In his entry for January 4^th he mentions joining the Army and being sent to Fort Trumbull in New London, Connecticut. He says he spent the night sitting or standing on the floor of a room where he did not get much sleep and that his “ first experience of soldiering was not very favorable or flattering.” The entry for the next morning reads “Cold but clear and pleasant outside but… in the barracks “WHEW!!” His third day of Army life does not seem to be much better. Part of his entry on this day reads “No sleep again last night. Too much of the D---ls own work going on and too much filth.” He writes about his journey south to join his regiment and how they stay in buildings with no windows and with guards on them all the time. He finally arrives at Fort Ellsworth in Alexandria, Virginia and is assigned to his company.

His entry for Monday January 11 shows that things were looking up, he writes “Commenced duty as a sojer by drilling- awkward business at first to greenhorns-but as will soon get broken in-like it so far.” The rest of the entries speak of weather and daily life doing drill and guard duty and the occasional box from home. He also complains about an earache and a boil.

On February 16 he writes about going into Alexandria where he “stood for a photograph at Wolff’s and bought a new cap.” Diary entries end soon after that on the 22^nd of February. Back of the diary has a list of items he drew from the Quartermaster. Except for the missing cover the diary is in good condition.

John H. Bradley was born March 31, 1830 in Simsbury, Connecticut. He graduated from Amherst College in 1854 and worked as a teacher. Mr. Bradley married Sarah C. Mather in 1859 and had two children. (Sarah Mather Bradley would also lose her brother who was killed in action at Resaca, Ga. in May of 1864.)  John Bradley was living in East Haven, Connecticut when he enlisted on January 4, 1864 as a Private in Co. G, 2^nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery. He died at Alexandria, Va. on March 18, 1864 and is buried in Canton Street Cemetery in Canton, Connecticut.