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(GREAT GETTYSBURG CONTENT UNION CAVALRY DIARY)

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(GREAT GETTYSBURG CONTENT UNION CAVALRY DIARY)
An exciting Civil War diary covering the whole year of 1863, mostly in ink comprising approximately 134pp., written by Pvt. Edward Sodan, Co. I, 6th Ohio Cavalry who served as an orderly to several generals, but was with his regiment during that year's fighting. During the Gettysburg campaign his regiment was detailed to guard the army's supply train and he gives a detailed account of the campaign, battle, and a very touching account of his brother's death who died while fighting on Culp's Hill. In very small part: "…[Jan. 31, 63]…Our regiment is at Stafford Courthouse on provost duty…The boys are playing cards in the steward's tent and drinking whiskey…[Mar. 4]…there is nineteen of us on picket duty…we can see the rebel's camps…[Mar. 15]…seen the rebel camp along with the colonel of our regiment…[Mar. 18, Battle of Kelly's Ford]…the boys came in from a scout tonight they got in some fighting. Henry Truesdell got wounded in the face…[Mar. 29]…to Fredericksburg with General Carr…we had plenty of whiskey. I got drunk…[Apr. 7]…there was a Grand Review...by the President of the United States. I rode after General Carr in review…[Apr. 17]…balloons are...looking at the Rebel camp…[Apr. 26]…got very drunk last night...We went on inspection…with the governor of New Jersey. All the staff was there…[May 1, opening of the Chancellorsville campaign]…put out pickets...I can hear the musketry plain…they charged on a battery but they did not take it…[May 2]…hard fighting this morning at Chancellorsville…I got wounded in the nose not very bad…had a fight this morning with a battery but soon silenced their guns. We blow up two of their limber boxes...the 11th [Mass.] got two men wounded…they charge on our battery last night we killed [a] good many…there is 11 hundred lying dead by the edge of the woods. The Twelfth Corps is going now up the Richmond Road. They [fired] one volley…our division is called out. The Eleventh Corps broke and ran we had to take their place on the plank road…it is about four o'clock...we held our ground...[May 3]…they turned our left round about noon…we could not see…I got wounded and my horse. I went back across the river...[May 4]…They shelled our train this morning...we took that battery from them...they made attempt to come for us...got repulsed…[May 7]…General Carr is gone for division general now [Division commander, General Hiram Berry was killed at Chancellorsville]…[May 13]…They bring the wounded men in from the battlefield...there [are] about fourteen hundred…[May 18]…I am excused from duty upon the account my wound...[May 21]…The First Mass. and Sixteenth is playing ball…[June 1]…I got my horse shod [and] ready for duty…[June 2]…Our brigade pass review by General Humphrey...[June 5, beginning of the Gettysburg campaign]…fighting at Fredericksburg...The Sixth Corps went across the river…[June 7]…troops are moving up the Warrenton Road. They expect to fight before long…[June 8]…The troops keep moving up to Kelly's Ford…[June 11]…had [a] fight at Rapidan Station. We marched 27 miles up the river...[June 13]…we are at camp at Beverly Ford. The rebels hold their position on the other side of the ford. They have got rifle pits ready for us…The army is on the move…[June 15]…march from Beverly's Ford to Warrenton Junction...[June 17]…march from Manassas Junction to Centreville and camped…[June 19]…march to Gunsprings. We had skirmishers out…slept in turd. It smell nice…[June 20]…on picket at Gunsprings…heard cannonading all day…[June 22]…had cavalry fight yesterday...drove them about eight miles...had two wagons burnt by the guerrillas…[June 23]…to Centreville with the head and killed my horse…my horse lie down, he could not move…[June 25]…cross into Maryland…[June 26]…we marched to the Point of Rocks...[June 27]…up to South Mountain…[June 28]…marched from South Mountain to Frederick…[June 29]…marched to Taneytown…[June 30]…Twelve Army Corps pass through here this morning…[July 1]…marched from Taneytown about five miles towards the front…[July 2]…the orderly...is killed and the other got his arm shot off and [?] got his horse killed…[July 3] fighting all day the prisoners are coming in all the time there is nine hundred come in this hard fight…[Sodan adds in the rear of the diary]...Matthias got killed at the battle of Gettysburg. I did not know until the fifteenth day of that month. I went to the Twelve Army Corps…and inquired for the Twenty Nine [Ohio] regiment which I soon found. I came up to company B and inquired for Soden…my blood run cold through me. They told me that he...die[d] in about one hour…[after being]...shot. The orderly sergeant says he was...the only man killed in the company…I see him go through Taneytown and had some talk to him. I got some hard bread and butter and piece of cow's tongue for him to eat as he went along. That was the last I see of him...[July 4]…news is that the battle is good on our side the prisoners still keep coming in there is about two hundred…[July 5] it rains hard…the rebels got into flock together…[July 9]…left Middletown they are fighting on this side of the mountain…[July 10]...the cavalry drove them five miles…[July 14]…heavy skirmishing was going on this morning…[July 18]…moved through Harper's Ferry into the Valley…got about eight miles up the Valley…[July 21]…got orders to report to headquarters. I did so and they gave me [a] horse to ride…[July 22]…the first division met the rebels…[July 23]…skirmishing all day we drove them about one mile…[Aug. 1]...We turn in our horses and came to Washington…[Aug. 2]…staid at the soldiers retreat…[Aug. 3]…came out from Washington to the dismounted camp…[Aug. 27]…at Pleasonton's headquarters [with] company D of the sixth regulars…[Aug. 31]…we made scout right through the mountain in search of Mr. Mosby and his men…[Sept. 2]…our lieutenant is captured last night and Sergeant Shaeffer killed and Captain Cryer wounded…[Sept. 11]…we found a few rebel but they did not stand to fight…[Sept. 13]…from Sulpher Springs to Culpeper Court House fighting…drove them...about three miles. [?] got wounded their shells burst in our ranks killing two horses…Boneham got down in ditch...I help him out...[Sept. 14]…skirmishing at the Rapidan the boys are on foot…they shelled us out of the woods we had some killed and wounded…[Sept. 20]...have to keep one horse saddled all the time, they keep shouting at our pickets…[Oct. 2]…Parker was shot. He was unloading some muskets at Centreville that he got from Bull Run battle ground. He tried to send them home but did not do so...[Oct. 14, Battle of Auburn Mills, Va.]…the rebels commence to fight us. We are ordered out as skirmishers...they soon come onto us and we fall back about hundred yards...and hold our line…Stroup was shot dead. James Chaffe got wounded...Longham and Stark was knocked off their horses...eight horse got killed and wounded...[Oct. 17]…we lie in the rifle pits without our horses…[Nov. 13]…our blacksmiths today captured by guerrillas…[Nov. 27]…found the enemy…began to fight with them…we supported a battery…[Nov. 29]…the rebels charged our picket…[Nov. 30]…we lie in line of battle up to Harper's Store…the rebels charge in our pickets. They killed lots of our horses…". Included in the lot is a copy photograph of Sodan in his GAR uniform. The diary is complete, but some of the pages are loose and the covers are detached. Minor water staining throughout with some light soiling, else very good.