Civil War Experiences:Under Bayard, Gregg, Kilpartick, Custer, Raulston, and Newberry 1862, 1863, 1864

This is a full, rich diary of a young Civil War soldier written with an innocent honesty that makes you want more. Prior to leaving home to fight, he wrote:"That night I went to my home, at Dobb's Ferry, on the Hudson River, and reported what I had done, intending to leave for Washington the next morning, when I was promised transportation. This interview with my parents was quite unpleasant, as my father was very angry and my mother in great distress. At that time both my father and his friends regarded my action as worse than foolish and almost as bad as though I had done something disreputable. Indeed, as I was afterwards informed, one gentleman remarked,"Well, that is too bad; that boy has gone to the devil, too. Along the way, young Henry meets up with some other soldiers. The details and his "matter of fact" speech make you feel like you are right there watching it all. "On landing at Walnut Street wharf I went into the soldiers' refreshment room, maintained by the citizens of Philadelphia, which was open night and day, where all soldiers passing through the city were fed free of charge. It was about two o'clock in the morning, very hot, and I was tired and depressed. Hence, when invited to partake of some refreshments, I was unable to do so but contented myself with eating a few pickles."

*"On arriving in Baltimore I walked to another part of the city to take the train for Washington. Meanwhile I wanted some breakfast. Going into a place I supposed was a restaurant, I found that the only thing they could offer me was ice-cream. I thereupon ate some, and soon after took the train for Washington. In a few moments the pickles, the hot night, and the Baltimore ice-cream produced most severe cramps, and I was in a very distressed state of mind, fearing that I would never be able to reach the front, but would have to face the mortification of being returned home."

An intriguing diary of a Civil War soldier. Never dull! A wonderfully written work!