Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

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Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], 10th Regiment, New Jersey Infantry/Confederate Soldier Diary, 1864, Ms2022-036, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

This collection was purchased by Special Collections and University Archives in 2014.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the 10th Regiment, New Jersey Infantry/Confederate Soldier Diary was completed in August 2022.

Biographical Note

The unnamed Union soldier was a private in the First New Jersey Brigade and was most likely a member of Co. D, 10th New Jersey Vols., better known as Olden's Legion named in honor of New Jersey Governor Charles Olden.

No information is known about the Confederate soldier.

Scope and Content

This collection contains a diary used by both a Union and Confederate soldier, both unnamed, who fought in the American Civil War in 1864.

The Union soldier chronicles his combat experiences at the Wilderness and Spotsylvania; his wounding and maneuvering outside of Washington, D.C., during Jubal Early's raid on Washington, including the hanging of a spy from the 65th New York until finally losing the diary during the opening of Philip Sheridan's Valley campaign in August.

The Union soldier was a private in the First New Jersey Brigade and was most likely a member of Co. D, 10th New Jersey Vols., better known as Olden's Legion named in honor of New Jersey Governor Charles Olden. His entries begin on February 21 and, as part of the Army of the Potomac's 6th Corps he chronicles the fighting that took place during the opening of Grant's Overland Campaign until he was "wounded by a slug" during the fighting at Spotsylvania Court House on May 8. After being wounded, he wrote about all his experiences including being removed from the front. He mentions that he was released from Jarvis Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, on June 17, and during Early's advance on Washington, he mentions marching throughout Maryland and writes on July 15 that a private of the 65th New York was hung for spying. Afterwards, he is present when Confederate General Early advanced on the Union army near Winchester, and he looses the diary.

The Confederate soldier's entries begin the day immediately following the last Union entry. His entries begin with Early driving the Union army before him on August 18. He details activity during Early's push to drive the Union army out of the Valley and concludes with the battle of Opequon or Third Winchester.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Civil War
• Confederate States of America
• Diaries
• Early, Jubal Anderson, 1816-1894
• Shenandoah County (Va.)
• Spotsylvania Court House, Battle of, Va., 1864
• United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
• United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Diaries

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the 10th Regiment, New Jersey Infantry/Confederate Soldier Diary by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).