Hiram L. Sibley’s 1864 Diary

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/20/2024

Pocket diary for the year 1864 with entries written by Hiram L. Sibley, who on 9/19/1862, was commissioned into "B" Co. OH 116th Infantry. Sibley was listed as POW 6/16/1863 Winchester, VA (Confined at Macon, GA & Columbia, SC), and Paroled 12/9/1864 Camp Asylum, Columbia, SC.This diary is written in both ink and pencil and very comprehensive with details. Here are several of the excerpts. January 7, "Rebels hard pressed for food as the adjt of the prison says guards have not had a meal in four days ... January 8, "Col. Straight and Capt Reed released from their cells. They look thin. (Straight attempted to escape and got stuck in the tunnel.) ... Jan 9, "Genls John Morgan and A.P. Hill visited the prison." January 13, "Rumoured fight off Wilmington proved correct. Rebels have lost another vessel." January 15, "Seven months to the day since I was captured." .. January 29, "Maj. Bates and Captain Porter escaped today. The former going by the guards in citizens clothes, the latter in Confed uniform." January 31, "Maj. Bates, poor fellow was retaken. He had gone 15 miles and was taken sick." February 10, "One hundred and nine officers escaped last night, by a tunnel under the yard. Only seven taken this morning." February 13, "Forty of the escaped prisoners recaptured to date. Starting April 24 and running two pages there is "Votes for President and Vice President cast by U.S. Officers Prisoners of War near Columbia, SC., Monday October 17, 1864". The tally, Lincoln 1024 - McClellan 148. May 6, "Rumored that we are to go to Americus Ga. Tomorrow". May 7, "Left Libby forever I hope" Took cars for Danville .. put into box cars like so many hogs". May 17, "Reached Macon after sunrise. Here put into a new prisoners camp .. acres without tents or shelter of any kind. Numbered 801 in total, lost 54 since we left Libby. May 21, "Began to build sheds and shelter for the prisoners." May 22, "Some new prisoners arrived bringing cheer news. ... Grant whipped Lee in all fights taking 15,000 to 20,000 prisoners ... Sherman after Johnson." June16, "Papers say that the fifty officers lately taken from here have been sent to Charleston to be put in range of our batteries which are shelling the city. One of them wishes all of us would be sent there." June 20, About 40 officers came in from Sturgis's command, lately captured by Forest. Represent the affair as one of the most disgraceful of the war owing to either the incapacity or drunkiness of Sturgis. Negro troops fought badly." July 19, "Several officers came in from Andersonville. They say about 29,000 of our soldiers are confined there. 4,000 are sick in the hospital. They from 70 to 75 per day.." July 27, "A 'few fresh fish' came in. Say Sherman is all right." July 29, "Came to the city of Savannah. Entered our camp at dark. Slept out doors all night. August 8, "Got all ready to go out through a tunnel last night, but a line of guards interposed & defeated the plan". September 5, "Good war news. Sherman has taken Atlanta after whipping Hood." September 13, "Started for Charleston and arrived about 9 o'clock." September 16, "A good many shells go over us and burst day and night. We are under fire from our own guns in the arsenal jail of Charleston." September 22, "About 50 officers are sent out on parole ... Hope we will all get out soon." December 1, "A most atrocious and brutal murder committed by one of the guards to day. George Turbain of the 66th was the unfortunate victim. December 4, "Rumored we are to be moved to Columbia." December 9, "Hours of starting change to 10AM. Got ready at once. While waiting got a letter from home which explains why I am among the 'specials'. God help the parents and friends who have saved me!. Left Columbia this PM."Nice bonus. The signatures of 69 fellow prisoners are present, covering 17 pages at the end of the diary. Each provides name, rank, regiment, home town/state.

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