2023-03 HCA Auctions
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/7/2023
A complete pocket diary written and carried by "George W. Mowers, Baty F. 1st Pa Arty, Veterans Volunteers, Army of the Potomac" as written on the front fly. Mowers is shown as enlisting 7/15/1863 mustering into "D" Co. PA 21st Cavalry. Then is shown reenlisted 3/17/1865 he mustered into "K" Co. PA 87th Infantry. Mowers wrote on every dated page, 366 entries plus another 24pp ledger pages of loans. Most pages are written in dark pen, some in a lighter ink and several are in pencil. The tight writing is legible. Mowers usually wrote a brief weather report daily. But, the rest of the daily entries are often filled with battle content, references to commanding Generals, some army procedural items, and occasionally reference to his father and friends. We will excerpt many of the comments trying to accurately reflect his deep involvement in the Virginia battles. 01/01, "Received the diary at twelve o'clock today ...", 01/10, "Reached Brandy Station at daylight. Took the same train ... Alexander ... reached Washington a 2pm...." 01/13 "Gathering information in regards to furloughing the men... Maj. Matthews and Capt Ricketts arrived ..." 02/21, "One of the guards while on post, loaded his gun and placing it in his mouth, blowed his brains out. he was killed instantly ..." 02/27, "... at half past six, the most of the men were drunk and unruly ... we reached Baltimore at 3am ..." 02/28, "We left for Washtn. at half past ten ... a man was thrown from a high bridge by the engine ... i suppose him dead. ..." 03/05; "Wrote a petition to governor Curtain protesting against Matthews' Promotion and had it signed by very near all the veterans." 03/24; "Rumour that the HdQtrs of the Army will be Lt. Gen'l Grant and Genl Meade in command ... which is approved by the Army." 04/04; "had quite a long talk with Capt. Ricketts in which he advised me to be commissioned to aQM he would do all for me that laid in his power.." o4/21; "News that Banks was repulsed with severe loss." 04/27; "Reported that Burnside and Hooker are at Brandy Station with Ninety Thousand men ... 05/06 (Wilderness) "Genl Custer cmmdg cavl on our left near the furnance was attacked with infty, artly, and cavl. They fought them until the infty came to support them. Our men gained considerable ground on Brook road. ... General (Alexander) Hayes was killed" . 05/07; "the Rebels are retreating. General Grant passed along the lines." 05/08; "The Rebels appear to be in our front. Orders from Gen'l Meade to ration up with six days ... Sharp fighting in the front of us. ... Quite a number of our men were struck ... heavy cannonading ..." 05/09; "Heavy breastworks for both Artillery and Infantry .. Gen'l Burnside passed toward Fredericksburg .. We laid in position .. near Todds Tavern .. General Sedwick killed." 05/10; "Very heavy fighting in front of the 6th Corps. They captured a whole Brigade of Rebels .. over 1500." 05/12; "An advance was immediately made in front and left of the Rebel position which resulted in the Capture of Johnson's Div. of Ewell's corp with all of its artillery and general officers...Our victory is said to have captured 7000 prisoners ..." 05/13; " I went along the breastworks in the afternoon ..The Rebel dead were in piles. It appeared to go ahead of either Antietam or Gettysburg. ..." 06/03; "Very hard fighting in front of the 2nd..More colors captured & breastworks taken. The cavalry are fighting at Gaines Mill. A large squad of prisoners brought in ..."06/05 A lock of hair is present. 06/06; "Sumter was badly wounded this morning by a sharpshooter." 06/09; "I was there but a few minuted before Coulter was killed. A sharpshooter picked him through the Port Hole, the ball going through the brains. ..." o6/16; "The 17th A Brigade of Butler's Negroes took the main fortifications in front of Petersburg." 06/25; "Arrived in time to see the effects of the shots from the gunboats which did splendid shooting ..." 07/06; Fred Boinst .. under arrest ... supposed he was keeping two ledgers & pocketing the difference." 07/12; "Reported that our forces have been badly whipped on the Monocacy. Gen. Howe killed & Gen. Tyler wounded and taken prisoner .." 07/15; "They were to besiege Petersburg. The siege commenced the 14th. The Rebs have been driven back from Washington." .. 07/25; "Reported that Sherman has been repulsed at Atlanta. Rec'd orders to be ready to move ..." 07/30; "We arrived in front of Petersburg in time to see the blowing up of the fortifications in front of the ninth. One line of works was taken in front of Burnsides ... the firing was terrific. .." 08/01; It is reported that General Hancock is relieved from the Army of the Potomac. ..." 08/09; "A terrible explosion took place at half past eleven at City Point. A barge loaded with ammunitions caught fire and blew up destroying the wharf, government buildings, Railroad ..." 09/06; "Published last night they say that Hood has defeated Sherman and retaken Atlanta. ... Sheridan has whipped Early .." 09/15; "It is reported that Fremont has withdrawn as a Candidate for President and that there is a split at the Chicago convention." 09/17; "The Rebel Cavalry made a raid on our Army and captured several hundred .." 09/21; "reported that Mobile is taken. The defeat of Early in the Valley is confirmed." 09/23; "Deserters report their army in depressed spirits on account of our late successes and superior numbers." 09/28; "Gen'l Grant passed us twice in a buggy near the point. He was driving himself." 09/29; "Butler has gone in on the right of the line. Heavy firing was heard all afternoon west of Petersburg. ... Butler has taken Fort Darling with fifteen hundred prisoners." 10/02; "heavy musketry and cannonading all times during the day. It is reported our left rests on the Appomattox west of Petersburg. the news is favorable from Sheridan and Butler." 10/15; "Last night the Rebs in front of the batry gave three hearty cheers for Little Mac and said they were going home to vote for him ..." 10/17; A number of officials are on a visit from Washington. Among them is the President, Sec. Stanton, & Sec. Seward. ... they spent the evening with Gen. Hancock. " 10/28; "The 148 PV took a fort last night in their front capturing a Col. ans Lt. Col. ... they penetrated the 2nd line of works..." 11/5; An attack was made at midnight by the Rebs in front of Battery No. 17. They were repulsed." 11/08; "The polls were open for election 115 votes cast with Union majority a 23. A flag of truce was granted for the Rebs to remove their dead lost in the charge on Baty No. 17..." 11/26; "It is rumoured that Sherman has taken Macon." 12/01; "Rec'd a dispatch from Thomas that Hood attacked him yeasterday and that he was repulsed with the loss of Five or Six thousand. Our loss is supposed be Seven hundred." 12/16; "Thomas has defeated Hood and pressing him closely..." 12/18; "Gen. Butler has left Fortress Monroe with large fleet .. for Wilmington. ..." 12/22; "It is reported that Jeff Davis is dead. Perhaps in his Rebellion". 12/24; "A disturbance in camp in the evening. Some of the men stole the Officers whiskey a raised a regular row. ... Sherman reports that Savannah has surrendered unconditionally. ... Butlers expedition has captured Fort Fisher in front of Wilmington. ..." Also on the inside cover we have this diddie: "Brandy, Brandy, bane of life, Source of evil, cause of strife, If men could half thy vices tell, They would wish thee safe in hell.''
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