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NEW YORK OFFICER`S CHANCELLORSVILLE DIARY

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NEW YORK OFFICER`S CHANCELLORSVILLE DIARY
<b>61. NEW YORK OFFICER'S CHANCELLORSVILLE DIARY </b>An interesting diary written by Lieut. Theron W. Haight of Co. K, 24th N.Y.V. covering the whole year of 1863, mostly in ink, with approx. 145 entries with fine military content from January through May 29, 1863 concerning Burnside's "Mud March", the Chancellorsville Campaign, a court martial, drunkenness, a snow ball battle and baseball games. In very small part: "<i>...[Jan. 2]...had to inspect the company this morning and take charge of it...[Jan. 13]...the army pretty drunk now...officers as well as men...[Jan. 16]...the cap't. lady arrived here this morning. Dark eyes-curling hair-musical voice-a spiritualist. Interesting but not handsome...[Jan. 21]...mud awful. Artillery and pontoon trains stuck in it along our whole road...[Feb. 23]...got notice of my promotion to 2nd Lieut...[Mar. 2]...bought a pair of shoulder straps of Col. Beardley...[Mar. 5]...about 100 men with 5 officers (of whom I was one)...went out on picket...I have charge of a post with 50 men...[Mar. 16]...orders to be ready for a review by Gen'l. Hooker...beginning of Capt. P[hillips] C. Martial...[Mar. 24]...Maj. Perry of the 30th was at our tent to night in high spirits [drunk?]...[Mar. 29]...I find Col. Beardsley has entered into an investigation with Sergts. Dickinson and Felt to deprive me of my regular promotion to the first lieutenancy. Such a despicable thing...[Mar. 31]...the right and left wings had a grand snow ball battle...after several hours...hard fighting and getting reinforcements from the 22nd and 30th the left was victorious...[Apr. 2]...division reviewed by Gen. Hooker this p.m...coats, trousers and throats filled with dust...Hooker looks a cross between a clergyman and editor...[Apr. 9]...reviewed by the President...[Apr. 10]...Col...convinced...that Oderkirk...encouraged and fostered the plan for George's promotion to the First Lieut'cy. What damnable associations a man gets into here!...[Apr. 14]...a great drunk in the left wing with Col. Beardsley (drunk) trying to quell the tumult...[Apr. 27]...ball play between the 14th and 24th. 24th beaten by 4 runs in 9 innings...[opening of the Chancellorsville campaign, Apr. 28]...marched at noon. Camped 3 or 4 miles...from Fredericksburg...spent the rest of the night getting pontoon boats into the river. Luckily a foggy night for there was a moon...[Apr. 29]...the rebs opened on us at daylight while we were landing pontoons...cleared them out taking a hundred prisoners...[Apr. 30]...Rebs opened on us with shell at about 5 p.m...we entrenched ourselves...[May 2]...shelling over our heads from both sides...the whole corps went up the river to U.S. ford...[May 3] ordered up at 1 1/2 a.m...sharp fighting in the forenoon the rebels attacking and being driven back at every attempt...[May 4]...made an attack on Chancellorsville...[May 5]...firing on our left at 8 a.m.-artillery, musketry...[May 6]...evacuated our position by daylight...'O! how mighty a little cannonading from batteries on opposite sides of the river'...[May 12]...three years men to go into the 76th...[May 13]...broke camp....marched to Falmouth station...[May 14]...started for Baltimore...a man killed...while waiting there...[May 29]...our regiment was mustered out of the service...</i>". Haight served faithfully from May 1861 until this time, but had been captured at the battle of Second Bull Run. Usual wear with some loss of the leather one the cover, else very good. <b>$1,500-2,000</b>