The following 1863 diary was sent to me for transcription. I was informed the first part of the diary was kept by a member of the 2nd Rhode Island Infantry who had not yet been unidentified. His entries were cryptic up until the Battle of Chancellorsville, when, on the morning of May 3rd, the Regiment supported General Gibbon’s division in carrying Salem Heights, near Fredericksburg. The diary gives some pretty good detail of the regiment’s movement on the “Mud March” in late January but the majority of his other entries serve more as a ledger for loans the author has made to officers and enlisted men in the 2nd Rhode Island. The majority of these seem to be in Co. B though there are loans to comrades in other companies as well. The amount of money loaned is rather significant and seems to be beyond what would normally be handled by anyone other than an officer. However, his handwriting and spelling are poor and more likely that of an enlisted man—especially since he does not record any activities typically performed by an officer.

The diary is then taken over by Walter Augustus Weddin (1840-1902) of Manly’s Battery, Co. A, 1st North Carolina Artillery.  A faint notation on the inside indicates the diary was “found on the battlefield.”  Weddins started daily entries in June—including Gettysburg—and on through the year.  Weddins also used the memorandum section as well as the first half of the diary (written around and on top of the previous owner’s entries) to keep various lists.

With the help of my friend Rob Grandchamp, an expert on Rhode Island regiments, I have been able to identify the author as John T. Goldsmith (1823-1904), a carpenter by trade. The numbering of the letters received and sent suggested to me that the author had only recently joined the regiment which had been in existence since much earlier in the war. John was not mustered into the regiment until 4 November 1862. He was mustered into Co. B but that company was consolidated with Co. A shortly afterward. In mid February he was detailed to the Brigade Quartermaster Department with whom he served until after the Battle of Chancellorsville. He then was assigned duty as a Provost Guard until mid-December 1863 and then worked in the commissary until deserting at Cold Harbor on 6 June 1864. These details and activities coincide reasonably well with the diary entries and are consistent with a man his age, which was about 40 years old. What’s more, John Goldsmith had a younger brother that served with him in the same company named Tobias A. Goldsmith, also a carpenter by trade, who enlisted in early August 1862 when he was about 30. Corporal Tobias Goldsmith was reported missing after the battle of Salem Heights and was “probably killed” in the battle. The clincher, however, was finding the author’s brother, “Asa” with a death date of 13 March 1863—the date stated in the diary. In Ancestry.com I was able to find that Asa H. Goldsmith (1834-1863) died on that date in Providence. In the 1860 US Census, Asa was identified as a 26 year-old “stable keeper” still residing in his parents home in Providence’s 5th Ward. His parents were Hubbard Goldsmith (1796-1879)—-a carpenter, and Joanna Roberts (1796-1875).

John Goldsmith was married on 26 April 1849 to Emily Frances Barton (1831-1910). She was the daughter of Robert H. and Julia Ann Barton of Providence.

[Note: This diary is from the collection of Rob Morgan and was transcribed and published on Spared & Shared by express consent.]

Transcription

JANUARY 1863

Sunday, January 4, 1863—Inspection of arms this morning. Orders for three days rations for fatigue duty, to be ready at 7 o’clock in the morning.

Monday, January 5, 1863—Broke camp at 8 o’clock. Went to landing 10 miles.

Tuesday, January 6, 1863—Went out to work this morning at 8 o’clock corduroying a road from the new landing at the Potomac Creek.

Wednesday, January 7, 1863—Went to work on the road at 8 o’clock.

Thursday, January 8, 1863—Went to work on the road at 9 o’clock. Returned to the camp near White Oak Church.

Friday, January 9, 1863—Nothing of importance.

Saturday, January 10, 1863—Raining.

Sunday, January 11, 1863—Received a letter from George [Edwin] Cushman. ¹

¹ George Edwin Cushman (1837-1898) was the son of Asa Cushman (1798-1884) and Puah Tilton (1795-1863) of Massachusetts. George was married to Susan L. Waite (1838-1865), the daughter of Stephen and Nancy B. ( ) Waite. in July 1855. In the 1860 US Census, George was a “laborer” residing in Providence’s 6th Ward. In 1870, he was employed in a screw manufacturing company in Providence.

Monday, January 12, 1863—Tending for the sutler.

Tuesday, January 13, 1863—Tending for the sutler. Received letter No. 17

Wednesday, January 14, 1863—Sent Letter No. 3.

Thursday, January 15, 1863—Received letter No. 18.

Friday, January 16, 1863—Marching orders. Orders countermanded.

Saturday, January 17, 1863—Went to the landing with the sutler.

Sunday, January 18, 1863—On inspection.

Monday, January 19, 1863—Received letter No. 19.

Tuesday, January 20, 1863—Broke camp at 11 o’clock to cross the Rappahannock. Marched 9 miles and camped for the night. Rained all night.

Wednesday, January 21, 1863—Broke camp at 6 o’clock. Marched 4 miles. The roads so bad that we could not go any further. The 4th Battery struck in the mud and most of the pontoon train. Some of them tipped over in the road. At 2 o’clock we moved 1 mile and camped for the night.

Thursday, January 22, 1863—Marching orders at 10 o’clock. We took our tent down and packed up. At 4 o’clock we pitched our tents again and waited for further orders. Order at 9 o’clock to turn out at 4 o’clock in the morning to ready to move at daylight.

Friday, January 23, 1863—Turned out at 4 o’clock and packed up. Started at 7 o’clock for our old camp. Arrived at 3 o’clock. 8 miles. Cleared off pleasant.

Saturday, January 24, 1863—[no entry]

Sunday, January 25, 1863—Sent letter No. 4.

Monday, January 26, 1863—On general inspection. Colonel [Nelson] Viall left us today. Read on dress parade.

Tuesday, January 27, 1863—Received letter No. 21.

Wednesday, January 28, 1863—Snowing. Sent letter No. 5.

Thursday, January 29, 1863—Cleared off beautiful. Snow 7 inches deep.

Friday, January 30, 1863—Went to the landing. Got stuck in the mud. Received letter No. 20.

Saturday, January 31, 1863—Credit Mr. Brady one dollar.

FEBRUARY 1863

Sunday, February 1, 1863—Brother T[obias] and I built a chimney to our tent. Received letter No. 22.

Monday, February 2, 1863—Sent Letter No. 6.

Tuesday, February 3, 1863—[no entry]

Wednesday, February 4, 1863—Loan Mr. Booth $1.50 of Co. C. On guard today. Brother T[obias]] detailed to go to headquarters as a carpenter.

Thursday, February 5, 1863—Received letter No. 23. Sent letter No. 7.

Sunday, February 8, 1863—The regiment gone on picket. I am with the sutler.

Monday, February 9, 1863—Loan [Peter] Riley, the tailor in Co., one dollar. Sent letter No. 8.

Tuesday, February 10, 1863—Over to the 139th [Pennsylvania Infantry] with the sutler.

Wednesday, February 11, 1863—Over to the 139th [Pennsylvania Infantry].

Thursday, February 12, 1863—Loan Sergt. [James C.] Nichols [Co. B] $4 with $1.25 [interest] ($5.25). With Bedwell today. Received letter No. 25.

Friday, February 13, 1863—Received letter No. 26.

Saturday, February 14, 1863—Loan two dollars.

Sunday, February 15, 1863—Loan F[rank] D. Morse [Co. B] four dollars. Rainy. Sent letter No. 9 with [$]20.

Monday, February 16, 1863—Sent a letter to G. E. Cushman. Sent letter No. 10.

Wednesday, February 18, 1863—Received letter No. 27.

Friday, February 20, 1863—A man in Co. F borrowed the spade. Sent letter No. 11.

Saturday, February 21, 1863—Commenced snowing at 10 o’clock this evening. Received letter No 28.

Sunday, February 22, 1863—The severest storm ever witnessed out here. The snow is 10 inches and still snowing.

Monday, February 23, 1863—Cleared off very fine.

Tuesday, February 24, 1863—Loan Luke Kelley [Co. B] $2. Received letter No. 29.

Wednesday, February 25, 1863—Received a letter from George Cushman. Sent letter No. 12.

Thursday, February 26, 1863—Started for three days picket. Down to the [Rappahannock] river. The Rebs is trying to send a board across the river with some tobacco to our boys. It is a stormy day.

Friday, February 27, 1863—It has cleared off very warm. We are out hunting rabbits. A broiled rabbit for breakfast.

Saturday, February 28, 1863—We caught 8 rabbits today. It rains tonight.

MARCH 1863

Sunday, March 1, 1863—Came off picket today. It is a beautiful day.

Monday, March 2, 1863—Mustered in today. Lent $1 to Hunt, Co. C.

Tuesday, March 3, 1863—Loan T. B. Howath one dollar. Morris O’Hern $6.

Wednesday, March 4, 1863—Loaned James Stanley [Co. E] $1. Received letter No. 30.

Thursday, March 5, 1863—Received a letter No. 31. No. 9 Lincoln Street. Sent a letter to T. M. & A. H. with $20 (sent letter No. 13).

Friday, March 6, 1863—Loan Lt. [Edwin A.] Russell $10.

Thursday, March 12, 1863—Built a fire place and chimney for the colonel.

Friday, March 13, 1863—On line drill. Loan Corporal Calley $1. Brother [Asa] died today at 11:30 o’clock.

Saturday, March 14, 1863. Received letter No. 34.

Sunday, March 15, 1863—Sent letter No. 15.

Monday, March 16, 1863—Went on picket for three days. Brother Asa was buried today at 11 o’clock.

Tuesday, March 17, 1863—Loan Frank Carr $2.

Thursday, March 19, 1863—Loan Tom Reynolds [of Co. B] $1. Came off picket today. Received letter No. 35.

Friday, March 20, 1863—Stormy.

Monday, March 23, 1863—Loan Frank McCaughey $15. James Bishop $1.

Wednesday, March 25, 1863—Sent letter No. 18 with my knife.

Thursday, March 26, 1863—Received letter No. 37.

Monday, March 30, 1863—Blustering snow storm. Miss Millum. Received letter from Just Clarke. Sent letter No. 21 with $20.

Tuesday, March 31, 1863—Loan T. Custy $1. Sent a letter to mother $5. Sent brother [ ] a letter with 2 dollars. Sent a letter to Gust. Clarke. Received letter No. 38.

APRIL 1863

Wednesday, April 1, 1863—Loans [to] Robert Yeaw $2. Lt. Russell $5. J[ohn] T. Goldsmith $7.

Thursday, April 2, 1863—On guard.

Friday, April 3, 1863—Loan McManuel $2.

Saturday, April 4, 1863—Some Capt. [Henry H.] Young $10. Richard Grant $1.

Sunday, April 5, 1863—Very stormy. Snow and rain. Received letters No. 39 and 40. Sent letter No. 22.

Monday, April 6, 1863—Loan John Heart $1. Lt. Gifford $5. W. H. Rutser, Dutchess county, New York. Sent Letter No 23 with 20 dollars.

Tuesday, April 7, 1863—Loan John T. Goldsmith $15. [apparently a loan to himself]

Wednesday, April 8, 1863—Loan Hilton $2. Morris O’Hern $1. Was reviewed by the President today. Received letter No. 41.

Thursday, April 9, 1863—Loan Foster $2.

Friday, April 10, 1863—Was mustered by Colonel of the 37th Mass. Received letter No. 42.

Saturday, April 11, 1863—Loan M. O’Hern $2. On guard today. Received letter No. 43.

Sunday, April 12, 1863—Going on picket for three days. Sent letter No. 24 with $20.

Monday, April 13, 1863—Received letter No. 44. One from mother.

Wednesday, April 15, 1863—Came off picket. It rains in torrents.

Thursday, April 16, 1863—Loan Lt. Gifford $15. Sent letter No. 25 with 5 dollars and one to the treasurer.

Friday, April 17, 1863—Received letter No. 45.

Sunday, April 19, 1863—On guard today.

Monday, April 20, 1863—Sent letter No. 26 with $5.

Tuesday, April 21, 1863—Answered brother T’s letter. Received letter No. 46. And one from Brother Tom.

Wednesday, April 22, 1863—Sent letter No. 27, with $40 and another $20.

Thursday, April 23, 1863—Loan Bishop $5. Very rainy. Sent a letter to Charley Becker. Sent likeness with 40 dollars.

Friday, April 24, 1863—It rained all day. Receive letter No. 48

Monday, April 27, 1863—From 7 o’clock a.m. to 12 at night. 17 hours. 254.00

Tuesday, April 28, 1863—14 hours $125, 17 hours $254. 31 hours $379.00. No. of checks that I sent today 32.19 $700 dollars. Broke camp at 3 o’clock. Went down near the river and camped till further orders.

Wednesday, April 29, 1863—Broke camp and started at 7 o’clock. Corcoran’s Brigade crossed the river at sunrise. It is now 10 o’clock. We are resting in the road near the river. A very little firing his morning. Sent letter No. 29 with check $700.

Thursday, April 30, 1863—Daniel T. Lyman, Allotment Commissary. No. 42 Weyhosset Street, Providence, R. I. No, 3289 Sent 50 dollars check in a letter No. 30. A slight cannonading today. A beautiful sight to see it.

Friday, May 1, 1863—As fine a morning as I ever saw. Everything quiet. Received letter No. 50. Sent letter No. 30 with check 50 dollars, No. 3289.

Saturday, May 2, 1863—Received letter No. 51.

Sunday, May 3, 1863—The batteries opened at 4 o’clock a.m. The rebs opened first and was soon answered.

[To see the remainder of the diary, kept by Corp. Walter Augustus Weddin of Manly’s Battery—Co. A, 1st North Carolina Artillery, see 1863 Diary of Walter Augustus Weddin.]