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CONFEDERATE 1864 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI DIARY

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CONFEDERATE 1864 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI DIARY
<b>62. CONFEDERATE 1864 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI DIARY </b>A great war-date Confederate 1864 pocket-diary belonging to Robert S. Wilkins, an officer of unknown rank in the quartermaster's department of Gen. John Wharton's cavalry division, totaling 67pp., complete for the year starting March 23, 1864 with some notes added during May 1865, concerning the Confederate operations during the Red River campaign and Texas' little-known military affairs against Union encroachment into that state, while Wilkins served in the command of Col. (later Brig. Gen.) William "Gotch" Hardeman. In very small part: "<i>...[Mar. 22]...left camp near Waverly Tex. on our march for La......[Apr. 7]...enemy advancing and our cavalry fighting them above Pleasant Hill. Fight opened for the day at the saw mill...[Apr. 8]...our forces fell back towards Mansfield the line battle formed within 2 1/2 miles of Mansfield-fight commenced about four o'clock p.m. and resulted in great victory...[Apr. 11]...mule lost near Mansfield...[Apr. 13]...fight at Blair Landing-General Green killed...[May 5]...captured steamboat `John Warner'. Captured gun boat number 8. Captured gun boat number 22...[May 17]...purchased mule from Jas. H. Brown...fight at Maconville, La...[May 27]...Dr. Wm. J. Watson accidentally shot dead from a pistol in hands of P. Merrill-occurred while they were reading together in Watson's office...[July 9]...my horse fell and I dislocated and fractured my collar-bone-about [one] mile from...Hyan's Plantation...[July 11]...although suffering from shoulder continued to work at my quarterly papers...[July 15]...had my shoulder examined...had it bandaged suffered more than before...[July 17]...left camp at Coburns Plantation and went to Alexandria expecting to get on the `Milton Reef' (steamer)-put my horse up in Gov. stable...[July 20]...determined by the authorities at Alex[andria] to send the Reef to the Mississippi with Yankees to be exchanged...rode back to camp...[Sept. 2]...heavy cannonading heard. Spent night with Captain Doreman at the camp of the 28th La. Inf...[Sept. 6]...our camp half mile out of town. Met Major Bassett in town...[Sept. 8]...finished the August monthly papers and enclosed two documents for Col. Law to sign...[Sept. 9]...rode over to see the town of Trenton crossed on pontoon bridge at town...buildings old and dingy...[Sept. 12]...march for Monticello, Ark. marched about 16 miles and camped on Bayou Bartholomew...[Sept. 16]...news of the fall of Atlanta...[Oct. 2]...news of John Lyons' death...Yankees advancing from Atchafalaya...[Oct. 20]...arrived at Washington, Arkansas...quite at town...the sand being about ten [inches] deep in the streets...[Oct. 23]...war sermon for purpose of getting chaplains in the army whe[re] great good can be done...[Nov. 8]...started the grey train and two mule wagons to Shreveport. Arrived at Hardeman's Hd. Qrs. at about 3 o'clock...[Nov. 9]...Col. Hardeman talks of detailing out our train to Jefford's brigade...one wagon, 5 mules sent to Camden for munitions...[Nov. 17]...the command has gone towards Little Rock to meet Gen. Price...[Nov. 23]...Hardeman & staff got back from expedition did not go more than 50 miles & came back...[Nov. 28]...moved our camp across the River `Red'. Crossed [at] Polk Ferry, three miles above Fulton, Arkansas...[Nov. 30]...Maj. Gen. Cleburn killed at Franklin, Tenn. Brig. Gen's Stahl, Gist & Gordon killed at same place...[Dec. 3]...broke camp on Red River and started on march for Nacogdoches Co., Tex. marched over some bad roads...[Dec. 9]...crossed the Sabine R. at Camden on ferry...[Dec. 17]...the boy Walter was taken off to Div. Hqs. by Col. Hardeman...[Dec. 19]...General Majors left for division headquarters...</i>". Wilkins apparently used the diary to record several notes concerning the demise of the Confederacy in Texas the following spring, in part: "<i>...21st of May 1865. Terrible [?] driving the Texas troops...Houston being plundered-on the 20th of May 1865 Hempstead was plundered by Walker's division...May 22, 1865 Troops being rapidly disbanded. Marched thro. Houston the troops being guarded...to Hempstead to attend to official business...</i>". Mostly written using a fine nib pen with not all of the entries filled, but nonetheless a great look at a series of Trans-Mississippi campaigns seldom encountered in the market place. Some light soiling and loose pages, but complete. Overall very good.<b> $1,000-1,500</b>