SEPTEMBER 1862

Monday, September 1

Is very cool. A brisk wind blowing. Cloudy and rains in the afternoon, quite a storm of wind and rain at dusk. The Doctor was around early this morning, he gave me a mustard plaster for my side, put it on, it helped the pain while it was on, but when taken off the pain returned again. No papers to day, we look anxiously for the news.

Tuesday, September 2

Was very cool last night. Wind blowing all night very strong, the weather is very changeable at Fort Monroe. Things passed off about as usual nothing to do and very little to eat, what we do get for our grub is not calculated to make a person strong very fast. Lewis C. White started for the Regt. this afternoon. There was about one hundred and sixty went.

Wednesday, September 3

Got up went down to the bay and washed, and got breakfast. Then I started to the 101st' Regiment Pa Volunteers, saw James W. Fletcher, he was well. They moved their Camp a little piece in forenoon. There was something near two hundred sick came here from Washington or Baltimore or somewhere else up there. Is very pleasant to day. All quiet here.

Thursday, September 4

Got up and went through the usual prelimmenaries of the day. We got our bread to day. It makes a person sick to eat it. The Surgeon in charge of this place examines patients every afternoon from three oclock till six; some are getting their discharge and others it is not granted. We saw by the papers Couch's Division was in a fight.

Friday, September 5

This morning is very warm. Do not feel so well to day as usual. Hear firing this morning in the direction of Norfolk. There was a letter came for Lewis C. White and he being gone to the Regiment, John M. White opened and read it, it says Mr. Matthew H. White came out in Prothonator Allen Wilson's Company as a Private.

Saturday, September 6

Was a heavy dew last night. This day is very warm but is a cool wind blowing. James W. Fletcher was down to see us in the forenoon. There was occasional heavy cannonading on the James River to day; it is said that the second Merrimac is down to above Newport News. They are prepared for her at the Fortress. Also the Rip Rebel .

Sunday, September 7

Got up at six had breakfast of bread and coffee, dinner of bread and vegetable soup and fresh beef, supper of coffee and bread. Is very warm and sultry. Was an occasional shot from cannon to day, it is said that the Merrimac No 2nd came down the River on yesterday and the Monitor put two holes in her, tie was tugged off.

Monday, September 8

Clear in the morning and very warm and sultry, but soon clouds up and rains very hard nearly all afternoon which cools the air considerable. Is some cannonading. The grub is still the same old hard stack. Am not so well to day as I have been for the past three or four days. There was some started to their Regiments this morning, Bugallar of Sturgis Rifles went.

Tuesday, September 9

Morning cloudy and warm. Rains pretty hard at intervals through the day. The Newspapers is looked for with intense anxiety this morning, they came about nine oclock in the forenoon, and the news was sought with much interest, the news is that the Rebels is in Maryland in pretty considerable force. Is great excitement on account of the news.

Wednesday, September 10

Rained some last night. Also this morning. Cool wind is pleasant air now. There is nothing new to record except that there was preaching in one of the tents in Camp by the Chaplain of the General Millcreek Hospital. The Mail arrived all right but it brought no letters for us boys at the Hospital. All quiet about here.

Thursday, September 11

It rained pretty hard nearly all night. Rained through the day considerable. We have had a great deal of rain here and looks as if there will be more. Was at preaching this afternoon at three oclock in the Camp, is to be Preaching every evening at three oclock at some of the tents. Wrote a letter home this evening and put it in the Office.

Friday, September 12

Rained nearly all night, was warm rain. Went to the Bay and bathed, the water is very salt.

Clears up in the morning and is very warm through the day, the sun shining down in good earnest. Was a hundred or more started from here this forenoon to join their Regiments. At present is exciting news for Pa soldiers.

Saturday, September 13

Was very warm and sultry all last night. Cloudy this morning. I received a letter from home this evening after a wait of some days of great anxiety. Some of the boys goes down to the Bay and catches fish, eels and large crabs; they boil them and they say they go not so bad. Things go on at about the same gate as formerly.

Sunday, September 14

Lay to bunk this morning till six oclock, got up, had bread and coffee for breakfast, bread fresh beef and soup for dinner, bread and tea for supper. There was eighty went to their Regiments this evening. Homer Bacon, one of the Sturgis Rifle Company of McLellan's Head Quarters went also. He was in the same tent. All quiet.

Monday, September 15

Was a heavy dew last night. Is pretty cloudy all day and looks like rain. Is warm and sultry. Went through the usual routine of business. Was a number of persons examined by the Surgeon

in charge Dr. Brinson. Some gets their discharge and others does not. There was eight buried from this Hospital to day. Average daily about four since I came.

Tuesday, September 16

Is nice and pleasant with a cool wind blowing. Matters to day is like they usually are about the Millcreek General Hospital, dull and heavy. There was between one and two hundred soldiers went away from here to day to join their Regiments. The Camp is getting cleared off of soldiers pretty fast. All quiet.

Wednesday, September 17

Rose early. The papers is looked for with great interest this morning, as they did not any come yesterday morning; the papers brings encouraging news from Maryland. Went through the usual programme (sic). Is somewhat cloudy with a cool breeze. Was over one hundred went from here to day. The names of all Pa soldiers was taken to day to be sent to Geo Curtin at Harrisburg.

Thursday, September 18

Is nice and pleasant with a cool wind. The Second Brigade of General Peck's Division went on board Transports this evening at Fortress Monroe, it is thought that their destination is Suffolk, it is said there is a fight going on there. The wagon train did not get on board. All passed off very quietly.

Friday, September 19

Rose early, went for water. Had breakfast. Went to the Bay, the train take that went

yesterday came along and went on board Transports. The guards is take Bridge and go along with the train. I went to the Fort in forenoon. The Mail Boat came in At ten oclock and the papers went like wild fire. Is encouraging news.

Saturday, September 20

Rained some last night. Is quite warm this morning. The papers came in early this morning. They brought us good news. Sprinkled rain at times. I received a letter from home this evening, I wrote a letter to Frederick Garlick in evening. Was a new Regiment of the New York Troops came in and are guarding about the Hospital.

Sunday, September 21

Rained steady and pretty hard all night, the ground is covered with water; the tent is almost afloat. Is cloudy and cool to day. I do not feel so well as usual perhaps it is on account of the weather, I have some pain in my side. The papers came in early this morning and were bought up very fast.

Monday, September 22

Last night cool, cool all day. I wrote one letter home in the evening. Was a good many got ready to go away from here but from some cause or other they did not go, they drew two days rations but took them back when they did not go. We got a piece of bread and salt beef and two potatoes for dinner apiece.

Tuesday, September 23

Last night was cool, to day is cloudy and pleasant. Mr. John Milton White left the Hospital this forenoon for the City of Washington; he was not well yet, but he thought he could get to be nurse in a Hospital further north. There was over one hundred left to go to their Regiments. There is prayer meeting every evening in camp.

Wednesday, September 24

Sun rose clear and shined very brilliant for a while but soon clouded up for rain. It begins to blow quite a storm of wind and rain about six oclock in the evening, was quite pleasant through the day. There was nothing of interest transpired here to day. We received the President's proclamation freeing slaves of the Rebels.

Thursday, September 25

Very cool last night, the same today; sun shines betimes. We got word by the newspapers to day that Gen Couch's Division Crossed over into Virginia at or near Williamsport on Monday last followed by Gen Franklin's Corps. There is considerable of the Army went over the River into Virginia, all is quiet here.

Friday, September 26

The sun rose clear and shone on the Camp of the Invalids near the Millcreek General Hospital Fortress Monroe Virginia and found the camp all right. Bronson is still the head Surgeon of this Hospital. We got bread, and coffee for Breakfast, soup bread and fresh beef for dinner and coffee and bread for supper.

Saturday, September 27

Amos Kible and James McLean nurses and others nurses were sent to their Regt and Washington. Was fifteen got their discharge to day. Was one hundred and forty sent from here. I got a letter from the Regt this evening with my descriptive list in. It was made out the 15th of this month and sent to me the 25th, They have over fifty two dollars charged to me for clothing which is five or six dollars too much.

Sunday, September 28

Not having transportation the most of the soldiers returned and went to day. I recd a letter from John Martin this evening. There was Preaching this morning at eleven oclock by the Chaplain of the Camp. Was Prayer meeting and seven oclock in the evening. Rained some last night, somewhat Cloudy but sun is very warm. All quiet.

Monday, September 29

Last night cool. Very warm through the day. I wrote a letter to John Martin. I do not feel so well to day as I have been for the last few days. I have a very bad headache and considerable of a fever. There was one hundred and twenty five sick sent to N. York from this Hospital.

Tuesday, September 30

Was heavy cannonading last night up the James River, also at intermissions through the day, is pretty handy towards evening. Is a very hot sun all day, clouds up at sundown. Got a pass and went down to the Fortress to be examined by Medical Director Gilbert. Pass would not take me in the Fort. and was not examined.