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CIVIL WAR DIARY OF PVT. WILLIAM ROWE, 11TH REG. N.H. VOLS.

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CIVIL WAR DIARY OF PVT. WILLIAM ROWE, 11TH REG. N.H. VOLS.
<b>59. CIVIL WAR DIARY OF PVT. WILLIAM ROWE, 11TH REG. N.H. </b>Fine battle content war-date diary of Pvt. William Rowe serving with the 11th New Hampshire Vols., a leather-bound day book, 120pp. of text covering Rowe's service from March 1, 1863 to Jan. 3, 1864. During the period of the diary, the regiment occupied Newport News until March 26, 1863, then slowly proceeded west to besiege Vicksburg, thence to Jackson, Cairo, Knoxville, and in the arduous Knoxville and Eastern Tennessee campaign where the regiment suffered bitter privation. Rowe's account reads in part: "<i>...A match game of Base Ball came off between Hawkins Zouaves and 51st Pennsylvania...steamed along slowly today accompanied by iron clads...in sight of Vicksburg...and halted near the famous cutoff...heavy firing in the direction of Vicksburg...Rec'd orders to be ready to march in 3 hours...Detail of 28 men from our Co. to work in rifle pits. Heavy firing during a portion of day and night...At 10 AM Vicksburg surrendered to Genl. Grant...Started for Jackson, Miss...[At Jackson] marched by the Insane Hospital. Filed to the right, and took a position on the left wing to support skirmishers...ordered to the front to relieve the 20th Mich. Regt., who were skirmishing. Brisk firing in the morning. Cannonading began at 8 o'clock. Shells flew thick and fast for nearly an hour...advanced our lines from 35 to 4o rods, and commenced to throw up earthworks for the protection of pickets and skirmishers...at 3 PM an attempt was made by the enemy to charge our lines and take Benjamin's Battery, but were repulsed with considerable loss...David W. Bagley was wounded...with a rifle ball fired from a Rebel gun...much annoyed through the day by the enemy sharpshooters...found the Rebels had retired during the night, leaving the way to the city all clear, and we were not long in gaining their rifle pits...Took possession of their works and the City of Jackson...captured a number of prisoners...Men all much fatigued, and many hungry ones as they have been on 1/2 rations for the last week...Genl. Orders from Gen. Grant thanking the corps for services rendered during the late campaign, and ordering Vicksburg & Jackson to be placed on the banners and guidons of the Regt...reached Knoxville about sunset...heavy cannonading heard all day in the direction of [Campbell] Station...rumor of a retreat...some Union cavalry picket in my front. Rebels make their appearance in the woods on Tazewell road...remainder of Regt. to go into rifle pits on hill...rebels make their appearance on the hill near the left of our Brig...Rebels planted a battery [and] fired a few shots at us...but soon were silenced by our batteries...heavy skirmishing all around the line...their lines now extending...having us half surrounded...Rebels very thick about the hill. Seem to be busy throwing up redoubts and rifle pits. A redoubt commenced in rear of our regt...Houses along side of town all in readiness to burn in case the rebs make an attack...[Rebels] make a sudden dash...[and] succeed in driving in the left of our Brig...Rebels made a desperate [night time] charge on our left...drove back our picket lines and forced them to the pits...the 11th N.H. standing their ground...[we] were ordered to go down and charge the Rebels...[Attack on Fort Sanders] heavy fire from the enemy...They advanced with four lines of battle...they went so near as to plant a Stand of Colors on the parapet three different times...with 20 minutes fighting they were repulsed...except those who were already in the ditch, so near under the guns to be useless to try an escape, so they surrendered...the ditch was nearly half full of dead and wounded...the ground around the Fort was nearly covered with dead and wounded Rebels...total loss of rebels estimated 1,000 in 20 minutes fighting...a flag of truce was asked by the rebels for the purpose of burying their dead...the advance guard of Sherman's command arrived here...succeeded in capturing 600 of them...Longstreet with 3,000 reported to have left here yesterday...</i>". Much more excellent content! Rowe also adds the names of men from his regiment who were killed, hospitalized, and discharged. A lucid, very well-penned diary, in excellent condition.<b> $1,500-2,500</b>