DIARY OF AMOS GLOVER
Edited by HARRY J. CARMAN
Foreword.
Amos Glover whose diary is here
reproduced, was born in
1832 near Centreville, Belmont County,
Ohio, where his father
Samuel Glover, had a general store. He
attended Allegheny
College, Meadville, Pennsylvania, for
three years (1853-1857)
without taking a degree. Upon his
departure from college he re-
turned to aid his father who had
acquired a 300-acre farm near
Powhatan Point and a couple of mills on
Capatina Creek. Ob-
servation during this period of the
effects of the custom of serv-
ing harvest hands with whiskey made
young Glover a total ab-
stainer. He broke away from the United
Presbyterianism into
which he was born and thereafter never
professed Christianity.
Yet he retained the strict morality of
his Scottish forbears, as
may be observed in various entries in
his diary.
At the outbreak of the Civil War he
organized Company F.
of the Fifteenth Ohio Regiment and
served as its captain until
elected treasurer of Belmont County in
1863, although according
to official records he was not
discharged from the army until
March 17, 1864. After the war Glover
served as cashier to Isaac
Welsh during the latter's incumbency as
treasurer of the State of
Ohio. In 1870 he removed to Delaware,
Ohio, where his younger
sister, Sarah, wished to attend the
Female College. Delaware
remained his home for the rest of his
life. Here he conducted a
drygoods business. His real estate
investments, especially in Co-
lumbus and in Kansas City, enabled him
to retire on a comfortable
income before he was fifty. Glover never
lost interest in politics.
For twenty years he served as chairman
of the Republican Party
(258)
DIARY OF AMOS GLOVER 259
of Delaware County. He was also a
delegate to the Chicago con-
vention that nominated James A. Garfield
for the presidency. He
did not marry but devoted his time to
his nieces and nephews
who remember him as a man of
intellectual tastes and genial hu-
mor, with executive ability that never
got adequate expression.
He died at Delaware on May 17, 1890,
aged 58 years.1
The Fifteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer
Infantry of which
Glover's company was part was among the
first to respond to
President Abraham Lincoln's call for 75,000
men for three
months' service. It was first organized
at Columbus, Ohio, May
4, 1861. After some service in northern
Virginia the regiment
was reorganized during the summer of
1861 at Camp Mordecai
Bartley near Mansfield, Ohio. It was
then assigned to the Sixth
Brigade (General Alexander McDowell
McCook, commanding)
of the Army of the Ohio then commanded
by General William
Tecumseh Sherman and later by General
Don Carlos Buell.
During 1862 and 1863 the regiment
participated in the operations
about Corinth, and in the battles of
Shiloh, Stone Mountain, Mur-
freesboro, Shelbyville, Chicamauga,
Missionary Ridge and Look-
out Mountain, not to mention lesser
engagements. In two of
these battles, namely Shiloh and
Missionary Ridge, Glover was
cited for gallantry. During the last
months of the war the regi-
ment was stationed in Texas.2
Glover's Diary3 does not
cover the entire period of the war.
Recorded in what was apparently an old
account book it begins
with September 16, 1861, the date when
Glover reported at Camp
Bartley and ends rather abruptly on July
25, 1863. While very
legibly written parts of it have faded
badly due, it would seem,
to the use of poor ink. Its chief
importance outside of the picture
it gives of Civil War soldiering is the
rather severe criticism di-
rected at the Commissary Department. No
attempt has been made
1 For these personal details the editor
is indebted to Amos Glover's nephew, John
F. Neff of Belmont, Ohio.
2 The
War of the Rebellion, a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union
and Confederate Armies (Washington, 1880-1901), Series I, Vol. X, 815-16, 319;
Vol.
XXX, part I, 535, 538-40, 549-51, 553,
573; Vol. XXXI, part II, 275-76; Whitelaw Reid,
Ohio in the War: Her Statesmen, Her
Generals, and Soldiers (Cincinnati,
1868),
II, 111-14.
3 The diary is now in the Library of the
Ohio State Archaeological and Historical
Society.
260 OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL
QUARTERLY
to
reproduce the accounts of soldier loans which are set down at
random
throughout the volume.
The
Diary
1861
Sept.
16 Left Belmont O[hio] on 16th Sept '61 for Camp Bartley at
Mansfield,
O. Arrived at Newark [Ohio] about eleven. En-
camped
in the public square and took dinner. Reached camp the
same
evening at five. Drew and pitched tents and got supper
which
was the first experience in soldiering.
17
Did nothing but fix up
18 " " "
drill
19 " " ""
20
Were mustered into the U. S. service and drilled
21
Did nothing but drill
22
Received some equipment
23
Drilled ad infinitum
24
Attended a habeas corpus case as witness vs. Col. M. R. Dickey
and
drilled. Also went to see Col. Wm. McGhee. Had a pleas-
ant
time and saw a very fine new [?]
25
Returned to camp and found it pulled up ready to move. Rested
nearly
all day in the [?] and finally moved--had a troublesome
time
with drunken corporals. Left about Midnight.
26
Arrived a[t] Mansfield at morn. Stayed in the grounds which
we
occupied in going. Stayed till after dinner--arrived a[t]
Columbus
at five got supper and passed on after dark.
27
Arrived at Camp Dennison at morn. Got no breakfast or din-
ner
till two, camped and rested.
28
Drilled and went for Uniform
29
Returned from C'm [camp] & drilled
Oct. 1
" &c
2
Drilled and went for Uniform
3
Walsh and Wingrove left for home. Received Muskets and
other
accoutrements & Blankets.
4
Left for Ky. [Kentucky] Got a
splendid supper at Covington.
Lost
my sword scabbard near Camp Dennison. Some trouble
with
the boys about Whiskey. Left for Camp Dick Robinson.
5
Instead of going to Robinson we were ordered to stop at Camp
Anders
near Lexington the home of the great Commoner Clay--
here
rests all of him that is earthy. Pitched tents and rested.
This
is the very Garden spot of creation.
6
Drilled and reduced Johnson to ranks for unsoldierly conduct.
7
Drilled
8 "
and saw Clays Monument.
9
Drilled. Half the boys broke guard
10
Struck tents [at] six and started for Louisville. Our trip was
a
perfect triumph march especially at Frankfort & Louisville.
Arrived
at Louisville. Got supper and stayed till morn on ac-
count
of rain--started went slow--arrived Salt River where se-
cesh
[secessionists] had bur[n]t the bri[d]ge. Crossed on new
trestle
work which was rather unsafe. Arrived at Camp Nevin
at
six and had to lie out supperless until late at night on ac-
count
of having no transportation for baggage.
DIARY OF AMOS GLOVER 261
11 Fixed up and rested
12 Drilled a little
13 Sab[b]ath. Went on picquet [picket]
guard about five miles in
advance of the camp--had a general good
time--captured two
secesh [secessionists] and came
very near having a collision with
Co. A by mistake of Captain Blake
14 Remained on Picquet [picket]. Received
many kindnesses from
the citizens. Returned to camp at 9 P.
M. all well but tolerably
hungry.
15 Welsh and Wingrove's furloughs having
expired we are disap-
pointed that they do not return rested
from Picquet.
16 Drilled by Ba[t]talian for the first
17 The first really disagreeable day we
have had--our quarters are
overflown--some of the tents with water
in--had to drain. This
is the first sad experience we have had
at soldiering. Letter
from Welch
18 Still wet and gloomy
19 Weather fair--nothing noteworthy
20 Assigned to 6th Brigade
21 Moved from lower to upper Camp at
Nevin when it was re-
demonstrated that briglers [bunglers]
and incompetents have place
in the army on which occasion I did
extensive swearing. We
bivouaced in a cavalry Camp. One mile a
day.
22 Go on pickett--no adventures only
Lieut. Fowler gets body
alarmed. Cold and wet
23 Weather fair and cool.
24 As usual--weather fair.
25 Heard of fight [with] a Wild
Cat. Rebels four times repulsed
and whip[p]ed.
26 Weather fair and fine
27 Sab[b]ath Inspection
28 Fine weather
29 Rowles, Diday and Yocone start but do
not get away for Louis-
ville.
30 They go to Hospital [at] Louisville
31 Weather fine
Nov. 1 Brigade Inspection
2 Regt [regiment] on Pickett
first time.
3 Sunday. Wingrove came to us.
4 Weather fair
5 to 8 " "
nothing noteworthy
9 F. B. Jackson, John Diday, John
Fletcher and Jacob Hescht
joined us.
10 Sa[b] bath--fair
11
12 Regiment on Pickett
13 News of our victory at Piketon
14 to 16 Good weather
17 Sab[b]ath. All the troops in our
division were received by
Buell. We were kept waiting in the cold
from ten till three
occasioning an unlimited amount of
swearing. 15th was com-
plimented by Buell
18 to 20 Nothing
262 OHIO
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
21 Went on pickett--a
terrible day--rains--winds--and cold. One
of Capt Haloways men
was shot by a comrade in mistake
22 Dunn died [and] was
sent home
23 Nothing
24 Sunday. Weather bad
25 & 6 Nothing
27 Were paid by Major
Thustin, jolly boys. Men $2380. My pay
240.00 send to John Mc
Reisson (Uncle) 350.00. Total amount
by the company 1389.00
28 Weather rough
29 Rain--Snow and wind
30 Our pickett day but
stream being so high we do not go
Dec. 1 Sunday. Joined by D. Logan, C. Boticher, A. Brast & P.
Tank-
house--Extensively
bored in Philip. Brought contributions
2 Cold &
snowy--severe on new boys
3 " Provision scarce. Bolling fork
bridge being down have to
haul from Westpoint
4 Nothing
5 "
6 & 7
"
8 Ordered to be ready
to march with two days cooked rations at
9 A. M. tomorrow.
Great glee.
9 After loading our
wagon which [was] a borrowed one as ours
was absent for
provision we bid farewell to "Our Calvin" camp
and our baggage for a
time and started through the mud. Went
to Bacon Creek. The
bag[g]age not coming up we lay out under
the broad canopy of
heaven
10 All save Co's A.
& F. moved on and we "waited for the wagon"
till one oclock and
moved on. Arrived at Munfordsville at four
11 Go on pickett in
the advance.
12 Flag of truce
crosses the river.
13 All quiet. Nothing
14 Go on pickett.
Weather fine
15 Sunday. Skirmish
with the rebels and the 32 Rebels gets the
worst of the bargain
16 All quiet--weather
fine
17 Fight between 3000
rebels and five hundred of the 32[nd] Reg
Ind[iana]. The 32[nd] cover themselves with glory. The
whole
division comes up
before and during the fight but are not sent
to reinforce our men
18 Burial of our (11)
killed
19 Nothing
20
21 Cloudy
22 to 24 Good weather
25 On Pickett beyond
Green River. J. C. Jackson's gun accident-
ally discharged
bringing me into line of battle. Capture a rebel
and two horses
26 Capt. Asken
returns. Co. T. officers commence housekeeping.
27 I have charge of 75
men to make road. During the day have
charge of seven
hundred.
28 Flag presentation
by 6th Ind[iana] to Louisville Legion. Pre-
sented by Geo. D.
Brentice and received by Rousseau. The Di-
vision was out. Major
Wallace in command.
DIARY OF AMOS GLOVER 263
29 Sunday. Muddy--got three likenesses
taken.
30 General Buel[l] is in Camp
31 Go on pickett Put away of[f]
out of [in?] the woods where
wooden men would do as well--the scene
of the fight. John
Brewer died at Munfordsville
[1862]
Jan. 1 Out on
pickett--nothing worthy of note. C. King died at Louis-
ville
2 to 5 Weather not very pleasant
6 On pickett. Being very cold we burn
rails for the first time.
7 Had a good time, caught Rab[b]its,
played ball &c. Major Wal-
lace shot himself in the foot.
8 Cars crossed the Green River
9 & 10 Nothing but two hundred me[n]
detailed to entrench
11 Cloudy
12 Sunday. Cold & sleeting
13 "
14 Go on pickett--ground covered with
snow--made beds with twigs
and slept well.
15 Nothing
16
"
17 On false alarm we were called into
line and marched to the south
side of Green River. In fifteen minutes
from "Fall in" we were
on the river bank one and a half miles.
Our by [boys] have
the pluck
18 Mud in superabundance
19 Sunday. Heavy rain.
20 Ordered to cook five days rations and
hold in readiness con-
tinually to march--took all night.
Relieved to be ready to assist
the Cumberland Gap force in case they
are reinforced.
21 News of the victory at Cumberland Gap
and Zollicoffer & Pey-
tons death
22 Go on Pickett
23 Good Weather
24
" "
25 Drilled first for a long time
26 to 30 Nothing
30 Went on Pickett
31 Nothing. Zollicoffer & Peyton
given up
Feb.
1 to 6 Nothing
7 Fort Henry taken
8 & 9 Nothing
10 General Mitchell arrives at Green
River and cross the river
11 Nothing
12 News of Roanoke being taken
13 Ordered to be ready to march at eight
next day--news joyfully
received
14 March in terrible weather and over
awful roads to Upton where
the boys lie out all night. I got
permission and went forward by
rail to Nolin to visit the
Dorseys--found a great change in
a short time. My little favorite dead
and another one just dieing.
15 Crossed to Old Nevin--after waiting
till two oclock for our
advancing column. The news of our return
became confirmed
and then I was in a stew. Not knowing
but that my company
264 OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL
AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
had been ordered back by rail and that
they would have an
important part to perform during my
absence. I secured a horse
and as luck would have it overtook them
near Bacon Creek.
16 Started again, passed our old Camp,
Wood, crossed the river
and camped two miles south.
17 C. B. Mills accidentally shot his
hand. Marched through rain
to Horse Cave
18 Moved again six miles to Pilot Knole
19 Passed a wet night and yet rains did
not move
20 Moved four miles to Camp Fry at Bells
Tavern
21 to 23 Remain in a pleasant Camp
23 Marched to near Bowling green a
distance of twenty-two miles
24 & 25 Nothing--viewed the
entrenchment
26 At dark we are ordered to draw two
days raw rations and lie
ready to march in twenty minutes--go to
the River through an
overflown bottom in mud to our
knees--cross the river at twelve
oclock and laid all night. We left
everything but rations arms
and clothing on our persons. This was a
grand military blunder
and the beginning of a week of uncalled
for and un[n]ecessary
exposure. A bad night
27 This morning finds us cold,
exhausted. having slept none and
entirely unfit to march I return to camp
for necessaries for the
boys. We could all have staid and been
in good condition for a
march and been as far on our way at
noon--crossed on a bridge
of boats. The regiment started before I
got back--caught it in
about four miles. Went to Franklin a
distance of twenty-two
miles. A nice town and a pleasant Camp
28 Move a distance of twenty-four miles
to Tyrus Springs--got in
at dark camped in a low boggy meadow.
The boys made the
board and rail fence walk--got a
reprimand for it. Out of grub
March 1 Move ten miles to the junction.
Encamp and get rations
2 Move at morn to within 1½ miles. Go
into camp but scarcely
sit down till we are ordered across to
Nashville. We march
through mud and drenching rain to the
river. After long delays
get on the boat on the hurricane roof to
stand again for an hour
in torrents of rain all the result of
official incompetence--finally
get over and set out on our march
through Nashville at night
in drenching rain. Went five miles and
encamped--burnt about
a mile of cedar fence.
3 Finds us cold, wet, hungry--foot sore
and worn out added to
which damned lazy, drunken commissarie
come from town with
nothing to appeas [e] our hunger
but a barrel of poisonous whis-
key for each brigade while there is a
superabundance of good
rations of meat and bread which we could
have had just as easily.
Move in the evening to the wood in a
more sheltered position.
Camp Andy Johnston
4 Clear and cold
5 Cloudy " " Tents &c came in the evening
and never were
griests more welcome--picked [pitched]
our tents and felt at
home. Snowed during the night following
& froze.
5 Were paid by Maj Thustin--my portion
262.50 sent to Uncle
McReisson 350.00. Sent in all for the
company 1543.00.
DIARY
OF AMOS GLOVER 265
6 Very
cold, snowy & freezing
7
& 8 " and clear.
8 We
go on pickett. No adventure
9
Skirmishing on pickett--were called into line but soon dismiss
to our
quarters with accoutrements on. Nothing more occur-
ring.
Were released soon.
10
Ba[t]talion drill
11 to
14 Rain and sunshine
15
Ordered to draw rations and be ready to march at 8 next morning.
16
March to Franklin 15 miles. No incidents. Peach trees in
blossom.
17
Went about 15 miles, passed Spring Hill about three miles and
encamped.
There appears to be more loyalty the further we get
from
Nashville.
18
Remain in camp owing to the burning of bridges over a creek
and
Duck River. Some rebels brought in.
19
Still in camp. Brigade guard put on. McClenahan in com-
[mand]
20 At
ten oclock we marched by Brigade 2 miles to Duck Creek
which
we waded about crotch deep. Went to Duck River op-
posite
Columbia
21
Detailed with forty men to work on bridge making planks of
Cedar
Rafts. Weather cold and snowing.
22
Cold and snowing--finished making flooring bridge.
23
Cold and snowing--visited Columbia for tools--Old Branden
quaked
when I entered the Church--got tools--made Boat Gun-
nels
and went to a saw-mill and appropriated timber for flooring
and
bottom.
24
Cold and snowing. Still at work building boat. Delayed for
want
of cotton
25
Warmer--finished and la[u]nched her. General Nelson ordered
the
fording cleaned. Boat carries 150 men
26
Pleasant. Bridge raising. Cavalry crossed the river on a scout
27
Weather fine--Bridge building
28 " " " "
29 " Rainy " "
30
Fine Weather. Nelson Division Cross the River Duck River
31
Finish to [the] Bridge--have orders to march (4 & 6th Brigade)
cross
Duck River and encamp three miles out.
April
1 Poplars in leaf. Passed Genl Pillows Farm--a splendid coun-
try.
Encamped near Mt. Pleasant 11 miles. Alders out
2
Marched fourteen miles. Camped
3 "
twenty miles through a very poor country encamped on
lower
Buffalo.
4
Marched sixteen miles. Fine weath[er]
5
Marched eight miles
6 Fine
weather--moved with the team till eleven in hearing of
Artillery
at Pittsburgh--halted tank rations & cartridges and
moved
on for four miles by a forced march--again halted and
waited
for wagon which coming up we again moved with them till
near
sundown when we again left them and moved on over ter-
rible
roads. Reached Savannah [Tennessee] about eleven and re-
mained
in a terrible Hail Storm till morning
266 OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL
QUARTERLY
Camp
Shiloah [Shiloh], Tenn.
April 7
Got up, washed, and ate thin air. Got on board boat for Battle
Ground.
Our Brigade all on one boat. The cannons roar greet-
ing
us continually--at eleven we landed at the battle field and
at
twelve were under fire--at two were engaged and continued
engaged
till the battle ended. Marched back near the river, got
a
verry little to eat. Staid out in a severe rain all night.
8
Rain--formed and marched to the battle ground--remained all
day
and night in the rain inactive.
9
Still inactive and raining.
10 " " " "
11 " " " "
12
Moved to new ground. Tents came up late at night--raining
13
In camp--fixing up.
14
Went on Pickett Brigade
15
Returned from Pickett. No adventures yesterday. Packed up
clothing
to send home. Got orders to be ready to move by eight
o'clock
tomorrow. Ship[p]ed clothing by S. B. Superior to
Powhatan--paid
freight [$]5.00. Wrote to J. Bergundthal en-
closing
receipt for clothing and also telling of payment to me
by
Jacob Hest of seven dollars and by Thomas Doty of twenty
dollars.
16
Moved to new Camp in plowed land. Poor water full of diarhoea.
17
Clark Barry was made First Lieutenant of Co. H. 77th Ohio.
18
Long Roll--to arms. Went two miles [and] found no enemy.
Mere
extending of pickets--got a sound drenching of rain.
19
Raining and cold--a very bad day.
20
Cold and raining.
21 "
" "
22
Pleasanter. Summoned before a general Court Martial as Wit-
[ness].
23
Brother on sick list. Popes force encamp to our left.
24
Good Weather. At half past eleven, just as we were going to
dismiss,
"Fall in" came and our division with cavalry and artil-
lery
went six miles on a Reconnoisance, took fourteen prisoners,
drove
the Confederate pickets four miles and burnt the camp of
two
Regim[ents] and returned to camp at four.
25
Went on Pickett
26
The case of Court Martial not coming up. Got pass and went
to
the 43[rd] & 63d. Had a long tramp but a pleasant visit--
found
the 43[rd] a good institution
27
Left 43[rd] which was about to leave and returned to my com.
On
enquiry could not discharge Graff.
28
Orders to draw and keep constantly on hands two days cooked
rations.
News of the taking of N[ew] Orleans. Popes forces
have
a skirmish
29
Move from Old camp at 7 oclock. Go three miles and encamp
--distant
cannoning. We have the advance
30
Good weather and good camp.
May 1
" " All quiet
Rain " "
2
Ordered to move. Leave Fiess and Wisenberg behind
3
Move at 11 and for the first time I have to be off duty and in
DIARY OF
AMOS GLOVER 267
the
ambulance--go but three miles but as usual arrive after dark
and get
our baggage next day. General Popes men on Brigade
under
Genl Payne fight and whip 5,000 Confederates killing 30
and
taking 500 prisoners with the [loss] of two men killed and
15
wounded.
4 Went
on a reconnoisance (I again in the Ambulance) went six
miles.
Stood in the rain for hours and saw nothing then returned
through
the rain and mud doing six miles of the most terrible
marching
we ever did. Got orders for Corinth.
5 Owing
to severe rains making the roads and streams impossible
we do
not start.
6 Fine
weather but owing to the roads do not go.
7 Good
weather Neuralgia bad
8 " " On
pickett
9 " " "
" some firing
10 Moved
three miles and laid out. Pope has a fight.
11 Lie
in the Woods all day. Move at night to a camp and get our
baggage
too late to put up
12 Go
out at three and a half A. M. expecting an attack--nothing
occuring--are
relieved and return to camp at noon. News of the
fall of
Norfolk and blowing up of Merrimac
13
Canonading and musketry on our lines. Rebel pickets driven in
14 Have
inspection. All quiet. Some canonading late in evening
15 Went
on a rec[onno]isance in force--saw some rebels--a hard
march
poorly managed. Returned to camp [at] 4 oclock
16 Make
out payrolls. Lie in camp. Draw three days rations. Or-
dered to
be ready to move at eight in morning.
17 Ready
at eight. Lie in line of battle till noon. Order counter-
manded.
Heavy canonading on the right in evening
18
Ordered last night to be ready to move at six this morning with
two days
rations. Did not move. Canonading in front
19 Still
in readiness to move hearing canonading all along the line.
News of
the taking of Richmond and opening of the Mississippi.
After
the lapse of one year I resume my Diary
1863
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
[1863]
May 20 The
history of the last year as connected with myself has not
been
verry eventful. I left camp near Corinth, Miss, May 26, 62
on sick
leave. Remained at home nearly two months--returned to
the
company at Battle Creek Tenn on the 30th June being detained
some on
the rout[e] by bringing Father with me to consult phy-
sicians,
inability to travel faster for want of strength and rail-
road
being destroyed. Was unwell [for] some [time] after
returning
to camp. Brother John went home sick. Col. Wilson
forced
to resign by the unprincipled trickery of certain parties
in the
regiment. Major Wallace at home for reasons--On 20th
August
started on the march toward Cha[t]tanooga which ended
at
Louisville Sept 26. Capt Cummins commanding until arrival
[at] Murfreesboro when Major McC[l]enahan received his ap-
pointment.
Thus far we enjoyed the fat of the land prepared
to meet
the rebels at several places--especially at Altamont Tenn.
Stop[p]ed
a couple of days at Murfreesboro, four at Nashville,
the same
at Bowlingreen letting Bragg get between us [and]
268
OHIO ARCHEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
Louisville resulting in the capture [of]
45.00 [4500]4 of our men
at Munfordsville Ky. Were paid at
Louisville and again moved
Southward. Oct[ober] 1st arrived
at Shelbyville. 3rd remained
till the 5th. Moved [to] Frankfort
driving a few rebels before
us. Remained there till the morning of
the 8th at 2 [o'clock].
Met the rebels at Lawrenceburgh and had
a skirmish. Moved
on to Dogwalk and encamped. On the
morning of the 9th had
a brisk little fight with the rebels
under Kirby Smith. But un-
accountably to us as we were not aware
of the condition of
things at Perryville they suddenly drew
off something worse for
the undertaking which was very lucky for
us as they were at
least as two to one to us. Moved on to
Crab Orchard by way
of Perryville where our Division joined
the Main army. Re-
mained a few days and again moved back [to]
Bowlingreen. At
Lebanon Col Dickey resigned and left
us--a deserving victim of
an unprincipled conspiracy to which he
gave countenance and was
its either too willing instrument or
gullible dupe. Genl Buell
being removed Genl Rosencrans took
command on our arrival [at]
Bowlingreen and just here I'll say he
has not disappointed our
con[fi]dent expectations of having a
brave and able general. Here
was commenced a career of official
drunkenness which is and has
been a disgrace to our regiment. Started
to Nashville Nov. 4th.
Left Lieut Welsh at Bowlingreen.
Encamped about a week at
Edgefield--crossed the river and made a
reconnaisance. Our
regimental commander drunk. Genl Willich
rejoined us. En-
camped at the Assylum Grounds for two we[eks].
Moved south
a mile into the woods. Here was such
official drunkenness as
would disgrace barroom rowdies.
Headquarters was a disgrace
to the men of the regiment. Again moved
camp one mile to the
rear. Did extensive foraging while at
Nashville. Col. Askew
received his appointment. On which
occasion I "wet my lips"
merely with wine. Started for Murfreesboro
Dec. 26 going
through Nolinsville and Triune we
arrived before Murfreesboro
29th. On the 30th heavy skirmishing in
which we took no part--
moved in the evening to the extreme
right--were attacked at 7
oclock 31st and literally run
over--cause--incompetency or some-
thing else. Some officers were
drunk--some panic stricken and
some both. Three of my boys were killed
McCaffrey, Hescht
and Craig. Wm Scott died of wounds. Jan.
1st manouvered
around. Jan 3 Charged to the river and
as usual lost our com-
manding officers and our place. Crossed
the river and camped five
miles south of Murfreesboro. Jan 6th. My
boys suffered terribly
in the rain and cold having lost all
their bed[d]ing and over
clothing by being ordered to throw it
down in the fight. In about
five days move camp to rear 1 1/2 miles.
About the 1st April moved
near the fortifications. After the fight
the old combination pur-
sued its persecution of Maj.
McC[l]ennahan which was done in
so mean a way as almost to cause the
pages of this dirty old
book to blush with shame. We have done
extensive foraging,
scouting, picketing and stealing here.
This morning finds us
astir. Col Askew commanding. Col.
Wallace absent on leave
at home for the sixth time. left the
18th. Quite a flutter was
occasioned this morning on account of a
construction of an order,
4 The official records do not bear
out this statement. Apparently the number
meant was 450.
DIARY OF AMOS GLOVER 269
defining what constitutes companies and
regiments which would
muster out all captains and colonels not
having minimum com-
panies and regiments--based on Capt.
Dawson's representations
of the construction given it by Gen'ls.
Rosencrans and Johnston.
Made report of company for history. 17
recruits, 86 originally,
10 deaths, 5 of disease, 4 killed, 1 of
wounds, 80 members now
55 present, 25 absent, 10 reductions, 10
promotions, 2 Court mar-
tialed, 14 discharged, 12 wounded. No
prayers. Continual diar-
hoea. Early & Orr sent to
convalescent camp yesterday. Cousin
Josiah made brigade provost sergeant.
Weather very fine. Com-
manding officer having (I think
temporarily) abdicated we did
no duty. Early & Orr sent to Barak.
20 Received orders to be ready to move
at a moments notice.
21 Went on picket
22 Came off picket. Some fight in to our
right and front at Mid-
dleton by cavalry. Resulted in the
capture of about eighty rebels.
Our loss five prisoners
23 Company inspection. Was officer of
the day--dug my first sink.
Received letters from Mollie and T. H.
Collins. Cousin Josiah
made provost sergeant. Weather fine.
24 Went on five days pickett to Salem.
Vallandingham was sent
through our lines. Not very well
received
25 Genl Willich comes to us.
26 Gulden returns
27 Suther sells beer to privates
28 Nep Madden returns to us.
29 Return to camp--nothing remarkable
occured on our trip. A
few deserters come in. There is a fine
rain after dry weath[er].
Some of our force go to the front. The
rebels reported fal[l]ing
back. Am too sleep[y] and tired to
write. Signed receipts for
clothing had in May. Received two
muskets.
30 Rained all day. Write to Father,
received a letter from Ed.
Goldsmith & Brown tender
resignations. Dorneck made Quar-
termas[ter]
31 Sunday. Monthly Inspection. Write to
Bergundthal. Get a
letter from Uncle. Am one of council of
Administration. Report
Co[mpany] Savings. Visit Willich
June 1 Collect
[$]35.50 Co[mpany] Savings. Send N. H. Bowles de-
scriptive roll, a triplicate. Have drill
& review
June
2 Get letters from Uncle and brother Sam[ue]l. The left wing on
pickett. A. Hurley goes to Hospital.
Vote on being mounted--
we mount
June
3 Send muskets &c to Orr and
McReirahan. Rain[ed] hard last
night. Orders for seven days rations in
haversacks and knap-
sacks--to be ready to move at a moments
notice
June
4 Go to the rear on Picket. I have command of the reg[imen]t.
Later in the day have command of a
station and the Corps officer
of the day visits us and I mistaking him
for a cavalry officer
and do not salute him for which he grows
verry indignant and
threatens to report me. All quiet
June
5 We carry our seven days rations in from pickett. Rained very
hard. Heard heavy canonading to our
right. News of Col Wal-
lace being in command of Camp Chase
6 All quiet. McMillin & Branden
return. Write to "Ed"
270 OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND
HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
7 Receive letter and certificate from Lieut. Welsh. Also from
Mother who is with Father at Cleveland, Ohio.
8 Nothing but learned that we are to be mounted. Williams speaks.
9 Received letters of Robert Arthur Brigade Drill by Willich.
10 Go on picket--in command of station in rear--nothing
11 News of the capture of Vicksb[ur]g--12,000 prisoners by Grape-
vine. Presentation of Watches to Cols Jones & Gibson. Speech
by Donford. Gibson makes a Gerrit Smith Red republican
speech. Official position obliges me to keep silence but I cannot
approve any such sentiments.
12 Drill. Wrote to Mother at Cleveland. Exchanged Arms. Turned
over to Lt Col. F. Askew
45 muskets 43
Ba[y]onetts
2.000 Cartridges 33
Screw drivers to C.W.
26 Wipers 12
Cones
6 Ball Screws 3 Vices
Received of him
54 Enfield Rifles & Bayonetts
4.000 " " Ball
Cartriges
54 " " Stoppers
52 " " Cones
3 " " Screw
drivers
13 " " Combined Wiper, Screw &c
Corporals, Sergeants (except McReirahan, J. Branden, Daily A.
Garloch got the last 2.
13 Heavy drills. T. H. Collins returns
14 Inspection by Lieut Green, N. Hurley gets descriptive list and
goes to hospital--playing off.
15 Letter from N. Brice. Drilled and drew Ordnance Stores.
16 Took Stone River Bridge (on drill) I. H. Green sent to parole
camp. Bad news from the East.
17 All the men on duty. I swim. Letters from Mollie & J. Bergind-
thal
18 Am on Court Martial. Command the company and am "officer
of the day." Receive blanks.
19 Drilled. On Court martial. Capt. Hutcheson and boys of the
52[nd] were here.
20 Lieutenant Brice and several of the 52[nd] were here. Nep.
Madden made division provost.
21 Nothing for remark
22 "
23 Orders for preparation to march
24 March five miles on Shelbyville pike, turn to the left and go to
Liberty Gap where the enemy are met. We skirmish and loose
[lose] one man Wm Barnett.
Drive the rebels and encamp near
their camp
25 Go as reserve for 32d on picket--some firing all day. At about
three oclock the rebels attack us. We reinforce the line. Co. A
skirmishing and we support. Our line is being driven rapidly
when we reinforce and by a desperate and quick fight succeed in
checking them and breaking their line which caused their entire
left to fall back and our right is saved from what appeared to
be inevitable defeat. I presume there has been few occasions
when so much depended upon so small a force and never did any
DIARY OF AMOS GLOVER
271
men meet the call for a determined
desperate fight than did my
little handful of brave men. Two of them
fell dead, George
Richeson and George Davis, two
dangerously wounded, James E.
Ramage and Christopher C. Taylor, four
severely wounded, John
Diday, B. T. Richeson, Lafayette, Hess
severely wounded. A
few others were slightly wounded.
Considering that I fought
this fight without orders and the verry
severe loss we sustained
I would reflect upon myself but for the
fact that it was the turn-
ing point of verry important results and
that by falling back with
those already retreating we would either
have lost the hill and
had the right flank of our entire force
by a precipate flight or by
fighting to have lost more men than I
did. Our only course of
safety to the army and ourselves at one
was to drive the enemy
from our front and out of the woods
which my brave fellows did
with a will. All honor to the brave
fellows who did it. C.
Hurley, A. Garloch, Weekly Knox,
McMillin, I. D. Boston, J.
Branden, T. Collins and James Barnett
showed the white feather.
I would the blood which flowed from the
brave fellows who fell
had flowed from their veins. I am proud
of my company al-
though some misbehave.
26 Lie in camp all day--go on picket in
the evening. At night under
cover of fires we draw off to Manchester
road. -- At the same
time and under the same cover the rebels
withdraw towards
Tullahoma. We go to Millersburgh
27 March to Beech Grove being verry much
delayed by trains
28 With a great many delays we march to
within 1 1/2 miles of Man-
chester, arriving at 3 1/2 oclock on the
morning of the 29th.
29 Lie in camp all day
30 Lie in camp all day. Have brigade
inspection by Cap[t]. Pat-
terson. Most of the baggage is sent to
the rear. This is our
seventh day and it has rained every day
and night most of the
time at a terrific rate.
July 1 Still
in camp. Things look a little more cheerful about Man-
chester. Police the camp but scarcely
done till we get marching
orders. Terribly hot. Stop for supper
and move on to Tulla-
homa. Arrive at 11 oclock. Verry muddy.
2 Visit the fortification--move our
camp. Fix up for a stay
3 At eleven last night were called to go
and guard a train in
March till daylight, meet the train and
return at 2 P. M. Verry
hard rain. Ewing Ramage died on
Sab[b]ath 28th 1863. He
was one of the best boys and as fine a
soldier as I ever knew.
Comissary took company savings and
distributed them among the
regiment.
4 National salute which I verry much
fear will be the last one
ever fired on a fourth of July. God
knows how well and will-
ingly I have done my part in preserving
our liberties and saving
our nationality and how freely I would
make still further sacri-
fices for my countrie['s] sacke [sake]
but I fear it is all to no
purpose. Although I make war against the
rebels in arms and
only then at this time I believe the
policy and conduct of the
war is responsible in no small measure
for our present condition
and ultimate failure if we fail. It is
scarcely possible that a just
God can so smile upon incompetency
intrigue and corruption as
to cause such instrumentalities to
succeed in any cause however
272 OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL
QUARTERLY
just. But I'll hope for the best.
Policing and resting some. On
short rations. Cars expected.
5 Moved camp again. Rains very hard. Do
some policing. Get
orders to go on picket. Get a letter
from Mother & answer
6 On picket. News of the defeat of Lee
by Mead, too good to be
true.
7 In camp. Madden returned to company.
Notice of McRirahans
detail at Nashville. Guerillas cut the
trestle work in our rear
and our advance stop[s] for want of
rations. On half of
rations. News of fall of Vicksburgh--buy
tobacco with com-
pany fund
8 Reported the conduct of men on the
25th June. Our baggage
was burned near Manchester
9 News of the capture of Vicksburgh and
Mead[e]s victory over
Lee confirmed. Lie idly in camp. Still a
little rain.
10 Go on picket at 4 A. M. Good news
confirmed. Morgan in
Indiana
Mail communication cut off
11
" " opened again. I am a sit[t]ing member
of
Court Martial again holding court in
Whorehouse op[p]osite
Gen'l. Johnston's headquarters. News of
Fathers improved health.
Police the camp within the picket line.
12 Sab[b]ath with nothing to do. Ag't [Adjutant]
Dubois has gone
for our company books. The boys have
succeeded in supplying
our table with vegetables.
13 On Court Martial. Desk and Books
arrive--all right
14 Make Muster & Pay Rolls. Final
statements of Ramage, Riche-
son, Davis and Barnet and descriptive
lists of Hess, Taylor,
Richeson & Diday. Quarterly return
of Deserters [and] of dead
and monthly return. Boys on picket. Am
detailed as recruiting
service without my knowledge.
15 At Court still. Make out Ordinance
report without vouchers.
Have semi-monthly inspection by Genl
Willich.
16 Weather fine. Send mail and
descriptive rolls to Taylor, Hess,
Richeson and Diday by C. Commission
17 Lieut. Miller Co A. 930 O[hio]
V[olunteers] tried by us
18 Company on picket. Gulden visits us.
Get notice of my nomi-
nation for Treasurer of Belmont Co.
Ohio. Am bored by it.
19 Get vouchers and give them for
Ordnance in last quarter and
make reports accordingly. Capt. Carroll
starts home on Leave
of Absence. Send L Broch certificate of
how wounded
20 Court adjourned. Nothing else
21 Rosencrans moved his headquarters to
Winchester
22 On picket. Everybody going out.
Morgans land captured
23 Paid by Major Allen. Make up package
to send home.
24 Express $16.01 dollars to John Welsh.
Nothing occuring. Ex-
cessively hot
25 Morgan at my home. Am Brigade
Officer-of-the-day--bury
many mules.
DIARY OF AMOS GLOVER
Edited by HARRY J. CARMAN
Foreword.
Amos Glover whose diary is here
reproduced, was born in
1832 near Centreville, Belmont County,
Ohio, where his father
Samuel Glover, had a general store. He
attended Allegheny
College, Meadville, Pennsylvania, for
three years (1853-1857)
without taking a degree. Upon his
departure from college he re-
turned to aid his father who had
acquired a 300-acre farm near
Powhatan Point and a couple of mills on
Capatina Creek. Ob-
servation during this period of the
effects of the custom of serv-
ing harvest hands with whiskey made
young Glover a total ab-
stainer. He broke away from the United
Presbyterianism into
which he was born and thereafter never
professed Christianity.
Yet he retained the strict morality of
his Scottish forbears, as
may be observed in various entries in
his diary.
At the outbreak of the Civil War he
organized Company F.
of the Fifteenth Ohio Regiment and
served as its captain until
elected treasurer of Belmont County in
1863, although according
to official records he was not
discharged from the army until
March 17, 1864. After the war Glover
served as cashier to Isaac
Welsh during the latter's incumbency as
treasurer of the State of
Ohio. In 1870 he removed to Delaware,
Ohio, where his younger
sister, Sarah, wished to attend the
Female College. Delaware
remained his home for the rest of his
life. Here he conducted a
drygoods business. His real estate
investments, especially in Co-
lumbus and in Kansas City, enabled him
to retire on a comfortable
income before he was fifty. Glover never
lost interest in politics.
For twenty years he served as chairman
of the Republican Party
(258)