This brief diary was written by Charles Thompson Boomer (1834-1871), the son of James M and Lucy Boomer of Charlton, Massachusetts. Boomer’s biography appears in Cutler’s History of Kansas, Brown county, page 20 as follows:

“Charles T. Boomer, was a member of Co. A, Seventh Kansas Cavalry, and enlisted in the summer of 1861 in Walnut Township, serving until the close of the war, sharing all the dangers and hardships of his regiment, and was discharged in the fall of 1865. He entered his company as a private and re-enlisted as a veteran, and rose to the rank of Sergeant. He was wounded twice while in the service, once severely, and his death, which occurred in April, 1871, was directly attributable to the exposure and hardships he endured while in the service. He was born in Worcester County, Mass., in October, 1834, and lived in his native State until his fifteenth year, when his parents removed to Kendall County, Ill., and where he resided until the spring of 1858, when he came to Kansas Territory, where he pre-empted a farm on which his brother now lives, and resided in the neighborhood until he entered the Union army. After his discharge he returned to his brother’s farm in Illinois, where he resided for three years, and then entered the employ of the American Bridge Company. He continued with this company about three years. And in 1870 returned to his farm in Kansas to improve it, and where he lived until his death, in 1871. He was favorably known far and wide to all the old settlers in the northern part of the State for his sterling worth and manly qualities.”

The regiment, under command of Lieutenant Colonel F. M. Malone, took an active part in the campaign in Missouri against the rebel General Price, during the fall of 1864, and participated in all the principal engagements. At Independence, Mo., the regiment charged against a superior force of the enemy, and succeeded in completely routing them and captured two pieces of artillery.

After the campaign against Price, the regiment was stationed by detachments in St. Louis District, where it was employed in fighting guerrillas until the 18th of July, 1865, when it was ordered to report at Omaha City, N. T., where it arrived on the 31st of the same month, and from thence marched to Fort Kearney. The regiment, however, had scarcely reached the latter station, when it received orders to return to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to be mustered out of service, where it arrived on the 14th of September, 1865, and on the 29th of the same month received its final discharge, after having served a term of three years and eleven months from the time of its organization until its final muster out of service.

In 2018, I transcribed four of Boomer’s letters to his family and published them here—1863-65: Charles Thompson Boomer to Family.

[Note: This diary is from the personal collection of Rob Morgan who made it available for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.]

Transcription

Journal of Charles T. Boomer, Sergeant in Co. A, 7th Kansas V. V. Cav., during the pursuit of the rebel Gen. Price when on his raid in Missouri fall of 1864.

21 August 1864—Lagrange, Tennessee. Memphis was attacked today at 4 o’clock p.m. by a force of Forrest’s cavalry, apparently about 2500 strong.

August 23. The raid on Memphis proved to be a part of Forrest’s Cavalry as before stated, but only about 300 or 400 came up to the town. We lay in line of battle one night but it doesn’t look as though there was much danger. There was a detachment sent to Gen. Smith on the 21st who is supposed to be at Oxford. It is hoped that Grierson’s Cavalry will cut them [off] before they can join their main command. All is quiet here. It is a very pleasant day.

September 12th—End of our Southern Campaign. We leave Memphis at 8 p.m.

September 15th—Arrived at Cairo just before six this morning. We lay on a sandbar all day yesterday. I have gone through this summer without seeing an armed rebel or hardly hearing a bullet whistle. Co. A has lost one man killed and 4 wounded. Bill Adams killed, Jennings, McIntosh, G____ , Rice wounded. The regiment has done good fighting, has been engaged some five or six times at or below Ripley, Pontotoc from Pontotoc to Tupelo, from Tupelo north to Salem and three or four times from the Tallahatchie to Hurricane Creek and to Oxford or battle Graham.

September 16th—Left Memphis on the 13th inst., arrived at Cairo the 15th on the John Rains. We got aground on the bar just below Island No. 10. Lay there all day and were helped off by the Darling. Today we ran aground about five miles above Cape Girardeau. We all got off and marched about three miles. The water is four feet scant on the worst bars between Cairo and St. Louis. Co. A, C, G, and I are onboard. Camp Gamble, St. Louis, Mo.

September 20th—Expect to be paid off today. About half the regiment were paid yesterday.

September 27th—Camp near Paris on the Iron Mountain Railroad. Left St. Louis this morning. Are now out after Price.

September 29th—We are standing to horse. Our Col. Herrick from DeSoto is waiting for the infantry to leave by way of St. Louis. I don’t know whether Potosi is taken or not. We are to move soon toward St. Louis. We are brigaded with the 13th Missouri Cavalry. I suppose that Price is marching up through the middle of the state.

October 3rd—I am thirty years old today. Have been scouting the last week, the first time for a year. I stand it just middling. We have been down on the Iron Mountain Railroad as far as DeSoto, some fifty miles or so. Saw no rebs. Are now camped on the Merrimac 15 miles southwest of St. Louis. It is reported that old Price is running but we may see him yet. We are having a dreary rain.

Union, Franklin county, Mo. October 5th—Left Eureka yesterday in a rainstorm. Came through Franklin to this place. The weather is fine today. Price was here three days last week and he gutted the town most effectively. It is quite a place and is the county seat. Is about 10 miles from south of the Missouri river and the same distance from Washington on the Pacific Railroad. Price was about 30 miles towards Jefferson City. I don’t know when we will leave. The 13th Missouri Cavalry are here.

St. Clarksville, October 6th—Last night there came a report that 600 individuals in trains were coming in here and men, women, and children just left and started for Union. A messenger arrived there and we all saddled. We started for this place; Co. A, of course, in the advance. On the way we met the citizens and a more scared lot of mortals I never saw.

October 7th—Major [Charles H.] Gregory and Co. A & D staid till night and then we received orders to join the command on the Jefferson Road which we did after marching about 20 miles, about 11 p.m.

October 8th—Yesterday we only came about 15 miles. Had eggs for supper. We are on Price’s trail. It is a poor country between here and Union.

October 9th—It is Sunday. We are camped near the Gasconade but can’t find it. It is not as pretty a stream as the Merrimac. Mr. Smith is a few miles oil our rear. The weather is fine but cool.

October 10th—We left Jefferson yesterday. Met. Gen. [John B.] Sanborn at California Station and came on to this place. Last night we had a [hell] of a time. Four brigades are here. Price is supposed to be at Boonville. He drove our fellows a mile and a half yesterday. This is our 17th day from St. Louis. Camp in the brush between Sedalia and Lexington. We are doing nothing but waiting for something to turn up. This is the 23rd day out.

October 22nd—We are within from 10 to 15 miles of Independence on the Lexington road. Gen. Pleasanton in command. There are 2 or 3 divisions of cavalry along and three or four batteries. Firing has just commenced. The front has been engaged for nearly an hour. Independence. Afternoon. We came to this place. The 13th Missouri Vols. charged and took two brass field pieces and skirmished in going and yet this is the 26th day out. [Samuel] Curtis & [James G.] Blunt are at Kansas City fighting now.

October 24th—Near Santa Fe, Missouri. We didn’t make much off of Old Price yesterday but we got close shelling to horse. There was a heavy fight at the Big Blue yesterday. The 2nd Division, 16th Army Corps—Winslow’s—and at Westport by Blunt. Price had to burn 30 wagons.

October 25th—Near the Marais des Cygnes. We came within four miles of here last night. Came 40 miles or more. Blunt was in the advance. There has been another fight this morning at the river and I hear the 4th Iowa, 2nd Division, took two guns and 50 wagons. I have seen about 200 head of cattle. We are rather tired. Out of hard tack and sow belly. It rained a little this morning. Is cloudy yet but cooler. 29th day out.

October 26th—Near Fort Scott, Kansas. Yesterday was a glorious day. In the morning the two divisions crossed the Marais des Cygnes and took four pieces of artillery. Then when about 6 miles out, the divisions charged in three columns and took 9 pieces more making 15 in all. Then about noon we came to the Little Osage. We charged across in two columns and Co. A got in advance. Before it was over, we killed six and took one. Dead rebels were lying all around on the prairie (The 2nd took 3 [two] generals—Marmaduke, [William] Cabell, and Campbell.

About three p.m. We came up with them on a high prairie, formed in 4 lines of battle. We formed in two lines and as fast as we advanced, they fell back. We had not men enough to charge and our horses were too badly run down to go in, but we had some sharp fighting and our artillery did splendid execution. Just before dark, they moved off and we camped in line of battle though we had no fear of an attack.

Gen. [John] McNeil commanded the divisions all day but I believe Curtis and Pleasanton were up to see the fun. I don’t know our loss but it was slight. I suppose that we took 200 prisoners, perhaps more. Blunt is reported after them now. We are feeding at a farm about three miles from where we fought our last fight. Bob is willing to come and eat some beef liver. We must have come 35 miles yesterday, most of the way on a gallop. There were 30 wagons taken besides many more that were burnt by the rebs. It is raining a little but I don’t think it will rain much. We don’t grumble about poor generalship as we did a week ago. Artillery has been heard in the direction of Dry Wood several times this morning.

October 27th—It proved true. We are in column about 40 miles south of Fort Scott, still in pursuit. We have passed 113 wagons the last 3 days. They had nearly all been burned, but we whipped them up so hard that they hadn’t time to burn them all. Old Price is hard up but I am afraid he will get away. The weather is fine.

October 30th—In camp near the Mt. Vernon road en route for Rolla. Day before yesterday Jennison came up with Price at Newtonia and got pretty badly used up. The 15th and 16th Kansas broke but the 2nd Colored stood. We lost 20 killed and about 60 wounded. Then [John] Sanborn came up and turned affairs slightly. We were about 7 miles back. The next morning we were ordered to Springfield. I don’t think there is anyone after him (Price). For the last week we have had hard times but we have enjoyed it. The horses have stood it well but nearly gave out. They are doing well now. I hope that Steele will give him (Price) a call. We came through a rather barren country yesterday. Last night was the first night that we have had a good sleep.

October 31st—Springfield. we arrived here a 2 o’clock p.m. It is quite a pretty place. We expect to go back soon, but of course don’t know.

November 4th—On the road to Ft. Smith. We started yesterday in a snowstorm. It was one of the most disagreeable days of my soldiering but we got to a good camp 20 miles from Springfield. Plenty of corn for fodder, and rails for fire and we spent a comfortable night. It cleared off about 8 p.m. We are to stop here all day. I can’t see the object of this move but suppose the Gen. can. We had rather a rough time at Springfield. It rained or snowed all the time that we was there, three nights and two days. This country is poor enough.

November 8th—Camp near Cassville, Mo. we came the 6th and I have staid here ever since. Today is the Election and we have done all we could for Old Abe. We have voted and I think the Old 7th has given Little Mack nary a vote. This is a Godforsaken country—all hills and valleys. The valleys are pretty good but the hills are of no account. There is a great deal of stone here. The creeks sink in the ground and then come out again in large springs. After we voted, I went down to the creek and took a cold rinse.

November 13th—And then we started about noon for Rolla. We took the right hand road and left Springfield to the left about 15 miles. We are now about 70 miles from Rolla. (We have passed the Gasconade) We have passed through an awful country. One of the men said that it was so poor that a whippoorwill would have to carry a haversack.

But the little valley are middling good. This is the Ozark Mountain country but the hills are low—not near as lofty as the hills of Massachusetts. It was three years since the Little Blue Fight where I was first wounded on the 11th inst. I hope we will meet a train today for our rations are nearly out and the country is too poor to furnish them. I think 3 days will bring us into Rolla.

November 14th—Last night we camped on the Big Pine after marching 35 miles. That is the poorest country that we have passed through. I suppose we have marched about 20 miles today. The country has been a little better but poor enough. It looks like rain.

November 15th—Rolla. It didn’t rain much. We crossed the Little Piney. It ain’t much of a stream and no pines on it. We arrived at Rolla just at night and learned that Lincoln had been reelected.

November 17th—We have lain here two days. Have just got a chance to look at a paper. All appears to be right. We were just 50 days from St. Louis to Rolla.