A Civil War Diary of William
McKinley
Edited by H. WAYNE MORGAN*
IN APRIL 1861 news came to Ohio that
secessionists had
fired on Fort Sumter; the long-dreaded
civil war was at
hand and the last hopes of compromise
vanished in the smoke
of battle. Ohio, home of so many
conflicting forces, had her
share of southern sympathizers, but she
was prepared to
stand by the Union cause even if it
meant war. Recruiting
agents mingled with politicians and
orators through the late
spring and early summer in the great
Ohio Valley. Men
would be needed; many would come from
Ohio.
Poland, Ohio, was a sleepy little
crossroads town in 1861,
untouched by most of the great events of the day. But
this
one did not pass her by. Young men
gathered in groups to
hear recruiting agents and patriots
explain the necessity of
raising an army to beat the
"Seceshers" and save the Union.
In Poland, as in a thousand other small
towns across the land,
crowds gathered, listened with
alternating enthusiasm and
silence.
In June 1861 Charles Glidden, Poland's
most promising
lawyer and later a close friend of
William McKinley, spoke
to a crowd on Poland's main street. As
he spoke young men
stepped forward to join the Poland
Guards, who were being
recruited to help Mr. Lincoln's cause.
William McKinley,
Jr., was in the crowd and listened
intently as the lawyer's
words brought out the crowd's
allegiance. Quiet, slight in
stature, with arresting dark eyes,
given to careful thought
* H. Wayne Morgan is an instructor in
history at San Jose State College,
San Jose, California. His article,
"Governor McKinley's Misfortune: The Walker-
McKinley Fund of 1893," was published in the
previous issue.
DIARY OF WILLIAM McKINLEY 273
and consideration in all his acts
though he was only eighteen,
the young McKinley weighed the
alternatives as he listened.
He was only a boy; his family needed
him; he had been ill.
Yet, on the other hand, he felt
strongly that he should do
his part for the Union cause, not
merely because he feared
being left behind, but because he
believed in the principles
for which the Union stood. He and a
cousin, William Mc-
Kinley Osborne, drove to Youngstown to
see the Poland
Guards off to camp, and talked over
their situation.
McKinley decided to enlist, and told
his family so. His
mother demurred temporarily, but
quickly agreed and gave
him her blessing. He went to Camp
Chase, an induction
center on the outskirts of Columbus,
and enlisted for three
months in Company E of the Twenty-Third
Ohio Volunteer
Infantry Regiment. It shortly developed
that the short-term
enlistments were filled, and the
company, with one exception
who later changed his mind, enlisted
for three years. Thus
the eighteen-year-old lad from Poland
cast his lot with the
northern cause, and on June 11, 1861,
he was formally mus-
tered into the army.
He endured his share of training,
instruction, and bore-
dom, filling his idle hours with
reading, instruction, conversa-
tion, visits to nearby sites when
permitted, and an extraor-
dinary number of prayer meetings. He
was religious as a
youth, a trait which carried over into
his mature years as a
public figure.
The action for which all the young
recruits yearned
loomed on the horizon when the regiment
was ordered to
Clarksburg, Virginia, on July 25, 1861,
to assist General Mc-
Clellan's forces in western Virginia.
The road his regiment
followed took him through terrain that
caught his fancy. He
knew the limited hills and valleys of
Ohio, but there were
veritable mountains in western
Virginia. The land lay in the
grip of many ridges, traced in clefts
by creeks and rivers, each
a potential battle site. Winter cold
and rain later soured his
liking for the area, but the sight of
the foliage and moun-
274 THE OHIO HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
tains relieved the weary monotony of
marching and camping
as his regiment moved to join larger
forces.
The action in which his regiment
figured in the weeks
ahead was far from heroic or crucial. The war had not
really
begun in the Virginia mountains, though
troop movements
raised clouds of dust and frightened
the residents as they
moved this way and that. The
Confederate aim was to obtain
a foothold and to gather supplies with
which they might later
foray into the Ohio Valley when their
strength permitted.
McClellan's aim was to deny them this
foothold and those
supplies and to bolster the Union
sentiment in western Vir-
ginia. For both sides it was a testing
ground of men and
tactics. Between July and October,
Union forces trailed Con-
federate marauders, attempted to
capture roving units, cut
lines of communication and supply, and
consolidated their own
position. The area around Beverly,
Weston, Buckhannon,
and Bulltown was the scene of their
activities.
In later years, unlike most veterans,
William McKinley
rarely mentioned his service in the
army, despite its obvious
political advantage. He preferred to
forget the trying days
and nights, the hunger and personal
discomfort, the danger,
and above all, the agony for which the
war stood. Further-
more, he was an exceedingly cautious
man, not given to com-
mitments in writing, who kept no diary
and whose letters are
of little value to the biographer. The
discovery of a Civil
War diary, therefore, is of prime interest
to students of his
life and times. Resembling many such
diaries, McKinley's
record is fragmentary, covering as it
does less than five
months of the war, and is of no great
interest for the broad
strategy or tactics of the war. But it
provides insights into
his character that are interesting and
important.
The document itself has an interesting
history. Written
in pencil in a small, coverless pocket
notebook with ruled
pages, it is badly smeared and torn.
McKinley's handwriting,
always difficult, complicates the
problem of deciphering it.
He wrote hurriedly, without punctuation
and often with little
DIARY OF WILLIAM McKINLEY 275
connected grammar. Though the diary
reveals his under-
standing of his situation and is
satisfactory for an eighteen-
year-old boy, it lacks the polish of
many similar diaries.
The little volume is now in the
possession of McKinley's
niece, Mrs. Sarah Winslow, of Santa
Monica, California.
The diary was first given to her
mother, Sarah McKinley
Duncan, the president's sister, after
the president's death in
1901. Mrs. Duncan in turn passed it on
to her daughter, now
Mrs. Winslow, who kept the diary among
her family papers
and memorabilia of the president. The
present researcher
was recently permitted to copy and use
the diary for the first
time.
The diary reveals a man aware of the conflict
around him,
but who had no idea of what the future
held for him. He was
young, inexperienced, a good worker
with common sense and
traits of leadership, but he never
thought he would rise to
the White House. The first pages of the
diary are torn and
badly smeared, but the entries become
legible on June 15,
1861, while the young recruit was in
training at Camp
Chase:1
Camp Jackson,2 June 15/61
Rose in the morning at four o'clock,
washed, combed, etc.; was at
roll call at five; ate a big breakfast
during forenoon; wrote a number
of letters for the Captain;3 read some
on military tactics and Wise's
letters.4 Before dark we
drilled for about an hour and a half on com-
mon quick and double quick time; was
pretty tired when done. [We]
had a short prayer meeting and a very
good one; our tent was full.
[I] was at roll call at nine and
shortly afterwards retired.
1 Since McKinley wrote the diary almost
without punctuation and capitalization,
these have been added without notice
when they do not change the meaning of
his sentences. Added words and letters are enclosed in
brackets; indecipherable
omissions are indicated by three dots within brackets,
thus: [...]. Occasional
paraphrases are also included in
brackets. Other spelling mistakes and grammar
lapses which remain are McKinley's.
2 Camp Jackson was a training center and
induction post four miles west of
Columbus; the name was subsequently
changed to Camp Chase.
3 The company captain at this time was
William H. Zimmerman, aged twenty-
five, who enlisted on June 1, 1861, and
was mustered out on July 15, 1864.
4 This item escapes identification,
unless it is a reference to the letters of John
Wise, the famous New England divine (1652-1725).
276
THE OHIO HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
Camp Jackson, June 16/61
Sunday morning. Arose at the usual hour
[and] was at roll call at
five. [I] spent most of the day reading
and writing; in the evening [I]
spent my time until nine at a prayer
meeting [and] also after roll call
up to ten. Both of these meetings were
good. I found them precious
to my soul--in fact, I felt more of the
love of God in my heart at these
meetings than I felt for some time
before.
Camp Jackson, June 17
Was at roll call at five; felt very
well; was not at dress parade in
the evening; attended prayer meeting;
had a very good one; went to
bed after nine o'clock roll call.
Camp Chase,5 18th/61
Was at five o'clock roll call; went on
guard at one P.M. [and] re-
mained until three; came off until
seven; went on till nine; came off
till one; went on till three.
Camp Chase, June 19
Drilled considerable time; wrote three
letters, one to Sister Helen,6
Fred Swisher,7 and "Register."8
[I] was at prayer meeting this evening.
Camp Chase, June 20
As usual was at roll call; no particular
change or variety in the
orders; on dress parade in the evening.
Camp Chase, June 21
[I was up at half past four]; on parade
in the evening; drilled the
usual time.
22nd, 1861
Jared Botsford9 arrived. [I
saw] Mary [Botsford]10 in the evening,
had a nice time, etc. [It] was quite a
variety to see and converse with
a young lady of her ability and
intelligence.
5 The new name for Camp Jackson; see
footnote 2.
6 His sister Helen McKinley.
7 Unidentifiable; apparently a friend or
relative at home.
8 The Mahoning Register, published
in Youngstown. McKinley contributed sev-
eral articles and letters to this paper.
9 Father of James L. Botsford, one of
McKinley's friends in camp. The family
was prominent in Youngstown, and McKinley later was
closely acquainted with
the younger Botsford.
10 Sister of James L. Botsford.
DIARY OF WILLIAM McKINLEY 277
23rd, 1861
Had a class meeting in the morning; was
at preaching at ten [and]
also at four--all good services. 1st
text: To him that overcometh, will
I give to eat of the tree of life.11 2nd
text: Our fathers trusted in thee.
They trusted and thou didst deliver
them.12 Mr. Hawkins of Poland13
preached the 1st sermon, a travelling
minister the 2nd. All day I felt
the love of God in my heart and
notwithstanding the surroundings
there was an inward calmness and
tranquility which belongs to the
Christian alone.
Camp Chase, June 24th/16
Arose in the morning at the usual hour,
drilled about an hour before
breakfast. At 10 o'clock Mr. Hawkins
took his departure, after bidding
us all goodbye. I wrote home and sent
the letter by the above named
person.
Camp Chase, June 25/61
Was at roll call at five in the morning;
did not drill on account of
being on guard. I had not what you might
call an unpleasant time
standing as sentinel for Camp Chase. [I]
slept out of doors from nine
to 12; stood on guard from 12 to two. I
enjoyed sleeping on a rough
board much better than I expected, with
naught but an overcoat and
a blanket to cover me.
Camp Chase, June 26
Was somewhat tired in the morning [and]
consequently didn't get
up at five o'clock roll call; slept till
breakfast time, got up, washed and
eat [sic], after which I felt
finely. Jared and Mary Botsford left for
home today. I also sent a letter home by
him.
June 27th/61
Nothing unusual transpired in Camp today
to mar the peace or
destroy the equanimity or break the
monotony of camp life. All passed
off as usual.
Camp Chase, June 28th/61
The records of today are similar to
those of yesterday.
11 "He that hath an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;
To him that overcometh will I give to
eat of the tree of life, which is in the
nidst of the paradise of
God."--Revelation 2:7.
12 Psalms
22:4.
13 Apparently a minister from McKinley's home town,
Poland, Ohio.
278
THE OHIO HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
June 29/61
Was out of Camp to the hotel; got a
glass of lemonade and a cigar;
was in company with A. B. Logan,14 C.
M. Long,15 and W. H. Nessle.16
[It] was quite nice to get out of Camp
for once. Was in dress parade
at seven in the evening. [We] had a
prayer meeting and a good one;
the blessing descended and good feeling
pervaded the meeting.
Camp Chase, Sunday, June 30
The Col., Lieut. Col., and Major was
around and inspected our quar-
ters. [I] spent part of the day reading
[and] with the assistance of
J. W. Cracraft17 acted as
cook; had class meeting at 2 o'clock P.M.
which encouraged me to go on in the path
I had commenced; it was
as good a meeting as I have attended for
some time.
July 1st
Very windy and rainy, some [sic] so
as to hinder us from drilling the
regular time; quite cold in the evening.
Camp Chase, July 2
Was up for roll call at five; drilled
some before breakfast. I was
out of camp today together [with] A.
Halliger18 [and] had a glass of
lemonade. [I] saw a man in the
guardhouse; the officer threatened to
gag him if he did not stop his
profanity; he finally concluded to behave
himself. [We were] on dress parade at
seven, [and] subsequently had
company drill. [I] received a letter
from Father.19 O how welcome!
Attended a prayer meeting in the
evening; enjoyed myself religiously.
[The] speaker [was] first rate.
Camp Chase, July 3d/61
Was up at five o'clock; drilled about a
half an hour before breakfast;
read some in Byron's Poetical Works,
especially my favorite subject,
14 Albert B. Logan; later a sergeant
major and second lieutenant in Company
B of the regiment.
15 Charles M. Long; later killed at the
battle of Antietam, September 17, 1862.
16 William H. Nessle; later a first
sergeant, second lieutenant, and first lieu-
tenant; mustered out on the expiration
of his service, July 15, 1864.
17 John W. Cracraft; later a sergeant
and second lieutenant in Company K of
the regiment.
18 Augustus A. L. Heliger; later a
sergeant; wounded at the battle of South
Mountain. The misspelling is McKinley's.
19 William McKinley, Sr., McKinley's
father.
DIARY OF WILLIAM McKINLEY 279
"A
Tear."20 Andy
Reed21 arrived [and brought me] a letter from
brother Abner.22 [I] stood on guard two hours for A.
B. Logan;
quite a pleasant day. [There] was a very
nice whirlwind [sic] on the
Camp Ground, the nicest one ever I saw;
was on dress parade at seven
in the evening [and] drilled
subsequently.
Camp Chase, July 4/61
Arose at the usual time; drilled a short
time before breakfast; was
put on guard; commenced at 12. At 2 P.M.
the regiment was brought
out and formed a hollow square when the
Declaration of Independence
was read by Major Hayes,23 after
which Lieut. Col. Matthews24 spoke
a short time to the soldiers, most
sublimely. [He] closed by proposing
three cheers for the Union. No duties
but guard duties performed
today. [It is now] nine o'clock at night
in the quarters of the Captain
of the Guards, [and I] intend sleeping
here until twelve, when I will
go on duty. [There is] quite a display
of fireworks, two baloons [sic]
ascending, skyrockets going up, firing
of muskets and a jubilee generally.
Camp Chase, July 5th/61
Arose about six o'clock. Got a cold
check; went on guard at twenty
minutes past six; stayed two hours;
rather tired and sleepy. [I] re-
ceived a letter from Mattie Hunter,25
which I read with interest and
pleasure. Wrote an article for the
Register, under not very favorable
circumstances. Twenty-three prisoners
from Va. were brought here
to be guarded and held as prisoners. On
dress parade in the evening;
drilled a short time afterwards. Smoked
a good cigar given me by
A. J. Duncan.26 [I] had a
conversation on religion, morals, etc. which
was quite interesting and I don't know
but beneficial.
20 One of Byron's most sentimental
poems, dealing with love, death, and the
warrior's fate.
21 Andrew M. Reed; entered the regiment
on June 8, 1861, and was discharged
on a surgeon's certificate on July 21,
1861.
22 His
younger brother, Abner McKinley, who was later one of his chief con-
fidants and most trusted advisers.
23 Rutherford B. Hayes, at this time a
major in the regiment; later its colonel
and a general grade officer who served
throughout the war with great distinction;
governor of Ohio, 1868-72, 1876-77;
president of the United States, 1877-81.
Hayes was very fond of McKinley and
watched his post-war career with solici-
tous interest, and was always a source
of sound political advice to the younger man.
24 Stanley
Matthews, first lieutenant colonel of the regiment; later colonel of
the 51st O.V.I.; United States Senator
from Ohio, 1877-79; associate justice of
the United States Supreme Court,
1881-89; a close friend of Hayes.
25 Mattie Hunter was a friend of
McKinley's sister Sarah, with whom he cor-
responded.
26 Andrew
J. Duncan, his brother-in-law, married to his sister Sarah.
280
THE OHIO HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
Camp Chase, July 6th
[It] rained in the morning [but] cleared
up about ten o'clock. [I]
went to the city [and] visited the
Capitol of the State; was in the
Supreme Court Library, [and] State
Library; visited the Artesian
well which is at a depth of 2775 feet;
took dinner at the American
Hotel; had a splendid dinner. J. W.
Adair and Mr. McCombs27 arrived
here; all glad to see him; had prayer
meeting in the evening; was in-
deed a good one.
Camp Chase, July 7th/61
Was up at the sound of reveille; did not
drill; a very pleasant day;
spent most of the time reading and
writing. The prisoners were re-
leased that were sent here. [I] was on
dress parade at 7; drilled a
short time subsequently. [I] attended
prayer meeting in the evening.
The reality of the Religion of Christ
was testified and acknowledged;
the spirit was there. Where the spirit
is there is life.
Camp Chase, July 8/61
Was up at roll call; drilled as usual;
did the cooking with the assist-
ance of Mayberry;28 after dinner, drill, and continued it for two hours;
was "some" tired in dress
parade at seven. After night the heavens
grew dark and the wind blowed [sic] fiercely;
we had no roll call in
consequence of this.
Camp Chase, July 9
Was up at five; cooked breakfast; was in
drill at the usual times in
the forenoon; wrote part of a letter to
quite a number of Ladies in
connection with their boys. Was out on
regimental drill for the first
time [for] two hours; was somewhat tired
when done. A Company
of Cavalry arrived here today originally
from Cincinnati, of late at
Camp Dennison,29 numbering
fifty-seven. [It] was quite stormy this
morning; rained very hard. [I was] on
dress parade. [I] attended
prayer meeting in the evening; I for one
testified of the goodness of
God. Many were the witnesses for Jesus.
The spirit was at work in
all of our hearts.
Camp Chase, July 10
Was up at the usual time. [I] am writing
while on guard, with my
27 J. W. Adair and Mr. McCombs were apparently two
visiting ministers who
preached to the troops.
28 Thomas E. Mayberry; died of wounds received at Antietam, October 15,
1862.
29 Camp Dennison was an induction and training center located near
Cincinnati.
DIARY OF WILLIAM McKINLEY 281
musket leaning against my right
shoulder. Nine prisoners were brought
here for plundering property belonging
to the Secessionists. [I] slept
in the Guard House part of last night;
stood on Guard from 12 to two.
Camp Chase, July 11th
Arose about six; went on guard and stood
almost three hours; wrote
a correspondence for the
"Register"; was on regimental parade in the
afternoon at four o'clock P.M. Also on
dress parade at 7; drilled an
hour after parade; was at a prayer
meeting subsequently; was at 9
o'clock roll call.
Camp Chase, July 12
Was up at five and attended to my
morning devotions; drilled and
ate my breakfast. Was on regimental
drill [ ... ]. [It] rained quite
hard this evening.
Camp Chase, July 13th
Was up at the usual time; performed my
usual private devotions;
drilled a short time, and am now pacing
the walk in deep meditation.
My thoughts are varied, dwelling for a
time on one thing and then
shifting. Attended prayer meeting at our
tent. Had a splendid meet-
ing [which] I led. [I] was at nine
o'clock roll.
Camp Chase, July 14th, 1861
[I am] sitting in a grove about one
quarter of a mile from the Camp,
with my head perched back in the butt of
a great tree. We just had a
class meeting and a very good one
indeed. There was quite a number
present. Our barracks were inspected by
the Col. this morning. [There
was] preaching in the above named grove
to the 24th Regiment.30 Text
found in the 6th chapter of 1st Timothy.
Fight the good fight of faith,
lay hold of eternal life, etc.31
Camp Chase, July 15th/61
Quite disagreeable this morning and all
during the day, entirely pre-
venting us from performing military
duty.
Camp Chase, July 16
Was on guard. [It is Tuesday and we]
received our fatigue suit.
30 The 24th Ohio Volunteer Infantry
Regiment.
31 "Fight the good fight of faith,
lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art
also called, and hast preferred a good
profession before many witnesses."--
I Timothy 6:12.
282 THE OHIO HISTORICAL
QUARTERLY
Mr. France32 and daughter,
and Mr. McCombs [came]. [I] slept out
of doors on the ground with C. Hubbard.33
Camp Chase, July 17
Was up at the usual hour; stood on guard
until nine o'clock; came
up to my barracks, cleaned up, and went
to the officers' quarters and
had a pleasant time with Beck France;34
accompanied her down to the
gate. [After] her departure [we]
received our shoes.
Camp Chase, July 18
Received our knapsacks and canteens;
wrote a correspondence to
the Register; was out on regimental
drill; attended prayer meeting in
the eve and a good one it was.
Camp Chase, July 19
Was up at the usual hour; drilled before
breakfast; received a letter
from Sister Annie35 and also
a paper from J. W. Watson;36 was glad,
as usual, to hear from home.
Camp Chase, July 20
Was up at the usual hour; acted as cook;
read two chapters in the
Bible. Attended prayer meeting in the
evening; a very good one indeed.
Camp Chase, July 21st
Was on guard; stood eight hours, slept
four hours; attended class
meeting in a grove. Rev. Wilson37 met
with us [and I] enjoyed the
meeting finely.
Camp at Weston, Va. Aug. 15th
Was ordered out to march at eight
o'clock this morning, but a short
time prior to leaving. Am now in a
wagon, on route to Glenville where
it is said "seceshers" are
thick. Nothing less than an attack from the
enemy is expected. Arrived at Glenville
about 10 o'clock at night
[and]slept on the ground, and sound was
my sleep. I slept under the
smiles of a bright moon, [and] felt
secure. We were not attacked on
our march.
32 Possibly a reference to Boswell French, later chaplain
to the regiment.
33 Cyrus W. Hubbard; later a quartermaster
sergeant and a lieutenant in Com-
pany A; mustered out with the regiment,
July 26, 1865.
34 Apparently a reference to Rebecca French, daughter of the "Mr.
France"
referred to in footnote 32.
35 His sister Anne McKinley, then
teaching school in Canton, Ohio.
36 Unidentifiable; apparently a friend or relative at home.
37 Unidentifiable;
apparently a visiting minister who preached to the troops.
DIARY OF WILLIAM McKINLEY 283
Camp at Glenville, Aug 16th/61
[I am] sitting on a bench, in the Camp,
but a short distance from
the little town of Glenville. Around me
on the right and left are hills,
high, such as I never witnessed before.
Facing me is one company of
the 10th regiment.38 Glenville
is a town of about half dozen houses,
and I should judge a similar number of
inhabitants. It is the County
seat of Gilmer Co. Many of the few
houses are deserted. What houses
there are are very good ones. Tomorrow's
sun will undoubtedly find
me on a march. It may be I will never
see the light of another day.
Should this be my fate I fall in a good
cause and hope to fall in the
arms of my blessed redeemer. This record
I want left behind, that I
not only fell as a soldier for my
Country, but also a Soldier of Jesus.
I may never be permitted to tread the
pleasant soil of Ohio, or see and
converse with my friends again. In this
emergency let [ ... ] my
parents, brothers and sisters, and
friends have their anxiety removed
by the thought that I am in the
discharge of my duty, that I am doing
nothing but [that which] my
revolutionary fathers before me have done,
and also let them be consoled with the
solacing thought that if we never
meet again on earth, we will meet around
God's throne in Heaven.
Let my fate be what it may, I want to be
ready and prepared.
Gilmer Co. Va. Aug 18th, 1861
Left Glenville by daylight in the
morning on route for Bulltown.
While on our road about three miles from
Bulltown we were fired into
by Rebels. Some five reports were made
and only three taking effect,
Corp. Becker,39 John
Robbison,40 and Andy Tiady41 were wounded.
In an instant after [the] firing, our
Company pursued the enemy but
returned without even discovering them.
Arrived at Bulltown about
2 o'clock; stopped there until evening;
thence moved forward about a
quarter of a mile and stopped for the
night. I slept upon the ground
and never slept better.
Braxton Co., Va. Aug 19th, 1861
Took up our march and continued it until
we arrived at Marshalville.
38 The 10th Ohio Volunteer Infantry
Regiment had moved with the 23d O.V.I.
to reinforce McClellan's forces in
western Virginia.
39 Ferdinand Becker; discharged February
10, 1863, for medical disability.
40 John Robinson; wounded in this
ambush. The misspelling is McKinley's.
41 Andrew Tiady, who was discharged for
medical reasons on April 12, 1862,
but who reenlisted in 1864 and was
discharged with the regiment in 1865.
284
THE OHIO HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
We arrived there about noon [and]
stopped until the next morning.
During our stay there we captured one
prisoner, a Captain of a "secesh"
Company.
Weston County, August 20th/1861
About 12 o'clock at night we were
aroused from our slumber to pre-
pare to march. Left before daylight and
reached Buckhannon a short
time after noon. [I] was very tired on
our arrival, layed [sic] down
and scarcely arose until the next
morning; camped near the town.
Camp at Buckhannon, Aug 21st/1861
Was up at roll call at five in the
morning; went to town, wrote a
letter home, returned to Camp, and went
to town and took dinner at
the Hotel. The camp was moved about one
mile and I/2 from Buck-
hannon. [We] went out there with the Co.
and pitched our tents in a
most beautiful place.
Camp near Buckhannon, Aug. 22nd, 1861
Left about 8 o'clock A.M. for
Buckhannon, Upsher Co., Va. Arrived
there at 2 o'clock P.M., a distance of
seventeen miles.42 When we arrived
there I was very tired and fatigued. But
a night's rest very much re-
suscitated my weary body. Slept soundly
all night; wrote some letters.
Camp on the road, Aug 23d/1861
Walked fifteen miles; stood guard;
encamped fifteen miles from
Beverly; was quite tired.
Beverly, Aug 24th/1861
Walked fifteen miles. On our route we
passed Rich Mountain, where
twenty of our men were killed, and three
hundred of the Rebels. Saw
a number of graves of the brave Indiana
patriots, etc. Beverly is a
very small town. Found a great host of
soldiers at this place.
Beverly, August 26th/1861
Parents, Brothers and Sisters:
This morning [is] a delightfully
pleasant August morning. The sun
is shining brightly. Boys are all
preparing to take up their line of
march. This scene brings to my mind many
thoughts, yes serious
42 McKinley obviously erred here, as
there is only one Buckhannon, W. Va.
It could be that he was referring to the
Middle Fork of the Buckhannon River,
though in that case his estimate of the miles traveled
was somewhat overstated,
because the distance is closer to ten
than seventeen.
DIARY OF WILLIAM McKINLEY 285
thoughts. We are now not far distant
from the enemy, as rumor says.
Soon, yes very soon, we may meet our
once brothers, now aliens and
enemies, face to face. It will be the
fate of some of us to fall, fall at
the cannon's mouth. If it be my lot to
fall, I want to fall at my post
and have it said that I fell in defense
of my country in honor of the
glorious stars and stripes. Not only do
I want it said that I fell a valiant
soldier of my country, but a soldier for
my Redeemer.
Wm. McKinley
August 27th/1861
Left Tygart Valley;43 marched about
eight miles on the pike, then
entered the woods, hilly, mountainous
and rocky-this we must climb.
Before we had proceeded far, night
approached us. We reached the
top of the mountain, halted a short
time, something which the whole
regiment required. We soon took up our
march down Cheat Moun-
tain44 and in order to
preserve our equilibrium and follow our leader
we were compelled to lay hold on the
backs of each other. [We] halted
at the bottom of the hill and encamped
for the night; had no tents or
blankets or overcoats with us [so we]
built camp fires and layed [sic]
down, with our feet to them; was very
tired.
Aug 28th, 1861
Arose by daylight and took up our march
over the mountains once
more; passed through the most deserted
place I ever passed in my life.
At about 8 o'clock P.M. we arrived at
French Creek. Scarcely half of
the regiment went through that night,
[and] I was among the number
that reached camp that night. We had no
provisions with us, but as
luck would have it there were three
companies of the [9th Ohio Volun-
teer Infantry Regiment] who built fires
for us, furnished us provisions,
etc. I went up and slept with them.
Morning, Aug 29/1861
Moved to a meeting house on account of
rain; at noon had for dinner
blackberries and milk, etc.
Eve, Thursday, Aug 29
Together with Lieut. Botsford, Corp.
Heiliger, [I] am enjoying the
43 A prominent river valley in the area,
which was the scene of many skirmishes
and battles.
44 The most prominent mountain feature
of the immediate area.
286
THE OHIO HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
hospitality of Dr. Brooks.45 He
has two fine, modest daughters. [I]
slept on the floor [and] enjoyed the
sleep.
Aug 30th/1861
[I had] breakfast at the Doctor's. Went
to camp. Johnson,46 Heiliger,
Osborn47 and myself took a
trip in the country, and chanced to drop
in at a house where they were about
taking dinner. [We] dined with
them [and then] returned to Camp. [I]
was at the monthly muster,
[then] went up to the Dr's. [I] took tea
there [and] had singing in the
evening, a very pleasant time, and
brought to mind the scenes of home.
Our tents came.
Aug 31st/1861
After breakfast [I] returned to camp;
found all the tents up; wrote
a letter home, went to town, and took
dinner.
Sept lst/1861
Had orders to march; attended preaching
in the forenoon; took up
our march in the afternoon [and] came to
Walkersville, a distance of
twelve miles; was on picket.
Sept 2nd/1861
Left this morning [and] arrived at
Bulltown a short time after din-
ner, where we are now encamped. General
Rosecrans48 made his appear-
ance for the first time. From
Walkersville to Bulltown [is] 11 miles.
Sept 3d, 1861
Left Bulltown on route for Sutton about
noon; halted about seven
miles from Sutton. At the above named
camp, where we stayed til [sic]
next day, I was detailed on guard duty;
acted as Corporal; slept about
a half an hour upon the ground with no
covering but the blue canopy.
Our regiment acted as body guard for
General Rosecrans.
45 Unidentifiable; apparently a man in
the area who befriended McKinley and
his companions, a common occurrence,
since Union sentiment was strong through-
out the vicinity.
46 Monroe
W. Johnson; later wounded at the battle of Antietam, September 17,
1862, and discharged in 1863.
47 William N. Osborn; discharged for
medical disability, November 4, 1861.
48 William
Stark Rosecrans, first colonel of the 23d O.V.I. His troops had won
the battle of Rich Mountain in July
1861, and were attached to McCellan's forces
at this time.
DIARY OF WILLIAM McKINLEY 287
Sutton, Sept 4th/1861
Left Camp Churches about 9 A.M. as body
guard for the General.
Arrived at Sutton about noon, pitched
our tents. [I] was very tired.
Camp at Sutton, Sept 5th, 1861
Was ordered to prepare for inspection,
but owing to the rain it was
deferred. Visited the town of Sutton
[and] was led to reflect on the
devastation and misery caused by civil
war. There are to be found
but few civillians [sic] [and]
all of the houses are occupied by soldiers.
Was on dress parade in the evening. Our
regiment is formed into a
temporary brigade together with the 30th
Reg. and a battery of regu-
lars.
Camp at Sutton, Sept 6th/1861
Was up at roll call at five in the
morning; ate breakfast, assisted in
drawing the rations. The remaining parts
of the right wing arrived
under command of Lieut. Col. Matthews.
[I] assisted in pitching his
tents; was on dress parade; Lieut.
Botsford acted as adjutant. [I]
received a letter from home, also a
paper from Duncans.
Sutton, Sept 7th, 1861
Left the above named place about noon.
About eight thousand troops
left this place. Quite an excitement
prevailed. We marched until after
night, when we halted, hungry, tired and
sleepless--and what was worse
than all, we had nothing to eat, our
wagons being in the rear. [We]
came a distance of about thirteen miles.
Camp at Big Birch Crossing, Sept 8th,
1861
Arrived here about 10 o'clock A.M. [and]
waited for some time,
when we pitched our tents in a most
beautiful place. J. W. Cracraft
was appointed Sergeant Quartermaster.
[We were] reviewed by Gen-
eral Rosecrans. [We traveled a] distance
[of] about two miles.
Camp at Big Birch, Sept 9th, 1861
Left this camp at about half past
eleven; was very warm and sultry
and to march was very fatiguing. We kept
up the march until 7
o'clock P.M. Hungry and tired, we
halted, stacked our guns, and
proceeded to prepare ourselves something
to eat. I made myself a cup
of coffee, roasted some
"Secesh" corn, had some cold meat in my haver-
sack, [and] with a cracker or two I made
my supper. Never did
288
THE OHIO HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
victual taste so delicious and
strengthening as the present. [We]
walked a distance of 14 miles.
Camp Necessity, Sept 10th, 1861
Arose quite early, prepared myself a
breakfast, and again took up
our line of march. We proceeded without
much delay until we reached
Summersville, where we halted. Here, the
enemy had been but a short
time previously, as their fires had not
yet gone out. Two "Secesh"
Cavalrymen were taken prisoner, one a
very intelligent young man.
They stated that we would not be a
"smell" for the enemy. After some
delay we took up our line of march.
After walking about eight miles,
we were halted and orders given to load.
This was evidence that some
difficulty was anticipated. At twenty-four
minutes past three, the firing
commenced, and for over three hours the
booming of the cannon, the
report of muskets could be distinctly
heard, and the smoke could be seen
rising to the Heavens. In about an hour
we were started double quick
for what I supposed to be the
battlefield, being then only two miles
from the place of fighting. We halted
but a short distance from the
battleground. When the left wing of the
regiment under Major Hayes
was ordered to proceed forthwith to
flank the enemy, we went on quick
time through meadows, corn fields and
laurel thickets, over rocks [and]
deep precipices. Part of our march was
made on our knees, and to
preserve a man's equilibrium was almost
a [ ... ] impossibility. We
finally arrived at the river, with part
of our men, the rest having got
lost. Here we halted and awaited the
arrival of the rest of the companies.
On inspection it was found that it would
be almost impossible to cross.
When across we could not climb the
mountain. At the river we were
under the breastworks of the enemy.
Frequently the cannon balls
whizzed past our heads. We returned in
the darkness of night. I need
not mention the difficulties we had in
returning. Before we returned the
firing had ceased, and the enemy [was]
preparing to retreat. [ ... ]
While on our way we met the Tenth Ohio
Regiment, with their dead
and wounded. The sighs and groans were
pitiable. The firing [ ... ]
stopped in a field close to the
battleground. With no blankets for a
covering, no food to satisfy our almost
starved bodies, we succeeded in
procuring some straw which we laid upon.
The reason of our not having
blankets, etc. [is that] we were ordered
to throw off everything but our
cartridge boxes and muskets. One fact
which I must not forget to write
was the firing down of the secession
flag--the shouts and cheers after
DIARY OF WILLIAM McKINLEY 289
this could be heard for miles. The 10th
of September closed the memor-
able day [ ... ] of Freedom's victory at
[ ... ].49
Sept 11th, 1861
Arose quite early; prepared something to
eat. One company were
ordered to leave. We marched to the
battlefield and there witnessed
the blood that had been shed the
preceding day, together with the
fortifications and entrenchments of the
enemy. Great preparations had
been made, and no doubt they expected to
achieve a glorious victory,
but alas they were doomed to
disappointment. Quite a lot of booty was
obtained and among these was General
Floyd's trunk.50
Camp Scott,51 Sept 12th
Nothing noteworthy happened
today--naught but what transpires
every day.
Sept 13th, 1861
Arose quite early; ate breakfast and
went out and did some walking
for myself. On my return [I] was
detached to go in Brigade Quarter-
master Office as clerk.
Camp Scott, Sept 14
Spent part of the day in writing;
nothing worthy of mention trans-
pired.
Camp Scott, Sept 15, 1861
Arose some time after reveille; washed
myself and arranged my toilet
generally; did some running around.
Wrote a letter to W. K. Miller; 52
also one to Helen.
Camp Scott, Sept 16
Moved our place of encampment a short
distance. [The] Quarter
49 Much of this passage is torn or
smeared. The battle was known as the Battle
of Carnifex Ferry, and McKinley
remembered it years afterwards. "This was
our first real fight, and the effect of the
victory was of far more consequence to
us than the battle itself," he said
later in his eulogy of Hayes. "It gave us con-
fidence in ourselves and faith in our
commander. We learned that we could fight
and whip the rebels on their own
ground." See Speeches and Addresses of Wil-
liam McKinley (New York, 1893), 643.
50 General John Buchanan Floyd, Confederate commander at this engagement;
former secretary of war for President Buchanan; a
prominent Virginian.
51 A temporary camp.
52 W. K. Miller was a family cousin and friend of McKinley, and a minister
in
Canton. One of McKinley's letters to him
is reprinted in Charles S. Olcott, Life
of William McKinley (Boston, 1916), I, 29-32.
290
THE OHIO HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
Master being sick, I had all of the
business to attend to. [I] started a
letter for Sister Helen.
Camp Near Cross Lanes, Sept 17, 1861
[I] was called up about midnight to
attend to some business, etc.
[and] was up about an hour and one
half. Arose at reveille, saddled a
horse and carried a report to Head
Quarters. Returned, ate my break-
fast, and went to Head Quarters to see
to the drawing of rations for
the Brigade.
Sept 19th 1861
Arose quite early; ate breakfast; did
some writing, etc. Nothing
noteworthy transpired.
Camp Ewing,53 Va., Nov 1st
Arose at reveille; during the forenoon
considerable firing took place
near Gauley, between Floyd's forces and
our own, the result of which
I am not able to tell. Orders came to
issue three days rations to the
men, which we did. Great excitement;
expecting to leave.
Camp Ewing, Va. Nov 3rd
Great excitement. [The] forces of the
23rd Regt. [were] paid off;
"all flush"; [I] received
$31. [It] rained all day.
The diary breaks off here, with the
exception of a few
scattered figures and tables,
reflecting McKinley's duties in
the quartermaster corps. The regiment
remained in uncom-
fortable winter quarters, harassed by
rain and cold, at Camp
Ewing, until April 1862, when they
resumed operations
against the Confederates. In April 1862
McKinley was pro-
moted to commissary sergeant, and later
advanced to second
lieutenant, first lieutenant, captain,
and was mustered out in
1865 as a brevet major, the title by
which his friends and
associates knew him ever afterwards. He
distinguished him-
self in several engagements, most
notably at Antietam, where
a monument to his deeds stands today.
His brief diary
records his first impressions of
military life and his reaction
to the conflict around him. If he hoped
that the war neared
an end during that cold winter of
1861-62, he was disap-
pointed; long years of it lay ahead for
him and others.
53 The temporary camp that became
winter quarters for the regiment.
A Civil War Diary of William
McKinley
Edited by H. WAYNE MORGAN*
IN APRIL 1861 news came to Ohio that
secessionists had
fired on Fort Sumter; the long-dreaded
civil war was at
hand and the last hopes of compromise
vanished in the smoke
of battle. Ohio, home of so many
conflicting forces, had her
share of southern sympathizers, but she
was prepared to
stand by the Union cause even if it
meant war. Recruiting
agents mingled with politicians and
orators through the late
spring and early summer in the great
Ohio Valley. Men
would be needed; many would come from
Ohio.
Poland, Ohio, was a sleepy little
crossroads town in 1861,
untouched by most of the great events of the day. But
this
one did not pass her by. Young men
gathered in groups to
hear recruiting agents and patriots
explain the necessity of
raising an army to beat the
"Seceshers" and save the Union.
In Poland, as in a thousand other small
towns across the land,
crowds gathered, listened with
alternating enthusiasm and
silence.
In June 1861 Charles Glidden, Poland's
most promising
lawyer and later a close friend of
William McKinley, spoke
to a crowd on Poland's main street. As
he spoke young men
stepped forward to join the Poland
Guards, who were being
recruited to help Mr. Lincoln's cause.
William McKinley,
Jr., was in the crowd and listened
intently as the lawyer's
words brought out the crowd's
allegiance. Quiet, slight in
stature, with arresting dark eyes,
given to careful thought
* H. Wayne Morgan is an instructor in
history at San Jose State College,
San Jose, California. His article,
"Governor McKinley's Misfortune: The Walker-
McKinley Fund of 1893," was published in the
previous issue.