Beschreibung:

Mid-century pocket diary, approx. 3 x 6 in., with brown leatherette cover, flap closure and wallet pocket in rear, identified to John Ripley, 8th Vermont Infantry. Printed for 1864, although Ripley completed a portion for 1863, with regular entries beginning in August 1863. A 25-year-old native of St. Johnsbury, VT, John A. Ripley, enlisted in late 1861 when it became apparent that the war would not be over before Christmas. The 8th Vermont was mustered into Federal service in mid-February 1862. Ripley enlisted as a corporal and earned promotions to sergeant, 1st sergeant, and 2nd lieutenant. Ripley veteranized with some of the unit in January 1864. It was ordered to Washington on April 15 to try to prevent the escape of Lincoln's assassins. The 8th VT participated in the Grand Review in May and mustered out in Washington at the end of June in 1865. The first few pages of the diary appear to be muster rolls, with lists of names by rank. A few have other notes such as "band," "clerk," etc. next to them. After the first week of February, Ripley notes things such as purchases ("Wm. H. Jones one Pr. Pants, ditto Blowst [sic - Blouse]" or "A.J. Reith - one Pr. Pants, one Pr. Shoes.") Early entires are sporadic but become more regular starting in late August of 1863. September 1 – "Left Thibadeaux for Algiers. We struck camp at 3 oclock & started for terebone [Thibodeaux?] station & arrived there at daylight. We got everything loaded on the cars when orders came from Headquarters for the 6th Massachusetts Battery to unload & return to Thibadeaux." September 2 – "Arrived in Algiers this morning about 4 oclock pretty tired & sleepy we camp below the warehouses. To day is a lively day with us we have not been in Algiers so long that we all want to look around & see the folks the People are glad to see us & hope we will stay awhile here." September 3 they go to the local market and get a good meal for the first time in months. September 4 – "Left this morning on the good boat Catawba for the mouth of the Mississippi River the 114th and the 160th New York volunteers was along with us we were clouded [crowded] very much but we got along very well by being noborly these three Regts are on good terms." September 6 – "to day we started from the mouth of the river for sabine Pass. We begin to feel somewhat hungry. Thare is plenty of Provision on Board but cannot get at it so they say. It is in the lower Hold…" September 8 – "This morning the gunboat Jackson started for the pass to feel of the Rrbs to see if they were strongly fortified we looked on with eager eyes to see how things progressed when about one half a mile from the light house the Rebells opened on the Jackson & while backing of got aground & was taken with all on board - 100 men & the crew." September 9 – "This morning at about 3 oclock we started back for the mouth of the Mississippi again with the loss of 2 gun boats & 150 men & Batteries & some Provision this is the first engagement we have been defeated in since we came out here & we had nothing to do with this but look on gunboat fighting altogether." September 10 – "Today we arrived at the mouth of the River again & cast anchor & are awaiting for orders we expect the expedition is given up this way as all of the light draft boats ordered to Berwicks City I expect we shall return to Algiers & go from thare to the Bay & from thare to Texas that way." September 12 – "Today we piched tents in our old camp ground in Algiers & are at home again two thirds of the Regiment are off to the City of New Orleans we cannot put guard enough around the camp to keep them in the Boys will crawl through a [k]not hole when the guard is turned back." September 16 – "arrived at the Bay at 2 oclock this morning & encamped thare is plenty of troops here we are going to do something with the rebells soon their Picketts are in sight of ours on the other side of the Bay about ½ mile from here." September 20 – "We have received marching orders this m