Occupy Norfolk

May, 1862

1 Quite pleasant.

2 A fine day. Had no drill. Regiment went on picket.

3 Quite pleasant and warm. On guard. Countersign Newport.

4 Still rather rainy.

5 Not very pleasant today.

6 Pleasant day. Matters as usual. Everything packed up ready to march.

7 Another pleasant day. Did nothing today.

8 Made a start today. Got part way to the fort and came back to take all we had. After a great many halts got to the fort, and about dark embarked on board a canal propeller and canal schooner. Staid on board all night. Came back to camp the next morning.

9 Fine day. Was detailed for guard. The brigade left for Norfolk this evening. The guard was left behind. Felt quite sleepy and unwell. Norfolk is reported as evacuated.6000 Federal troops were ferried across Chesapeake Bay on canal boats and marched toward Norfolk. However, Confederate General Benjamin Huger felt his troops would become trapped and he evacuated Norfolk before the Union troops arrived.

10 Another fine day. The troops did not get landed on the other side at Willoughly's point till early this morning. Last Wednesday the President reviewed our brigade. President Lincoln was visiting the area to check on the progress of the invasion and encourage faster movement of the Army toward Richmond. He also became personally involved in planning for the invasion of Norfolk. Willoughbys Point is south of Fort Monroe, just across Hampton Roads.

11 A very fine day. The wounded from West Point and Williamsburg began to come into the hospital which is adjacent to our quarters. I assisted all day in attending the wounded. Faced by an overwhelming force, the Confederates evacuated Yorktown on May 3. There were battles at Williamsburg on May 5 and at Eltham's Landing (also called West Point) on May 7. Due to the evacuation of Norfolk, the Confederates were forced to destroy the Merrimac on May 11. While he doesn't mention this in the diary, Goodwin likely witnessed the burning of the Merrimac.

12 More wounded came in. 250 in all. Worked all day very hard in attending the wounded. Was glad of the opportunity to assist my brother soldiers who were wounded. It was a sad sight; some had lost their eyes, arms, legs, etc. Some through the groin and hip.

13 A fine day. Went to the fort with all our baggage, put it on board a steamboat after dark. There were about 30 wounded secesh prisoners brought into that hospital. "Secesh" is an abbreviation for secessionist or rebel.

14 Diary entry combined with the 15th.

15 A little rain today. Got to Norfolk at about six o'clock A.M. Went about the city and sold some old N. Y. Heralds for secesh money. Towards noon went out to the camp at the intrenchments. Carried the flag through the streets. One lady from a window waved her handkerchief. At another place on a stoop a woman veiled her face and turned her back to us. After we got to the intrenchments, two miles off, had to come back to the fairgrounds, ½ mile from the city in another direction.

16 Rainy today. Some got their tents up, but there were plenty of secesh barracks, first rate ones, so some of us staid in them. Detailed for guard. Countersign Washington. The New York 99th is now in camp near Norfolk and would remain in this area for the remainder of the year.

17 A little pleasanter today. Toward night took a walk and got some roses. Very pretty.

18 A very fine day. Broke camp and went back to the intrenchments.

19 A fine day. A heavy shower toward night.

20 Another pleasant day. All day fixing our tent. Got a letter from my brother near Richmond. This would be his brother Edwin of the 3rd Maine. McClellan's Army had now advanced close to Richmond.

21 A very fine day. Still continue to fix the tent. Nothing unusual occurred.

22 Another pleasant day in the forenoon. Rained all the afternoon. On guard. Countersign Florida.

23 Quite rainy today. Matters all quiet along the lines.

24 Pleasant day. Matters as usual.

25 On guard today. Picket. Countersign Suffolk. Had a nice lot of strawberries.

26 Rainy today.

27 Pleasant in the afternoon. Went into the city. A free Negro from Baltimore shot Corporal Hogan of Co. C. In the evening a lot of the men went down and maltreated every nigger they met. A number killed and wounded.

28 Very pleasant in the forenoon but rainy in the afternoon. On picket guard. Countersign Cairo. One year ago this morning left New York.

29 Pleasant but hot. Nothing new. One year ago this morning arrived and anchored off Fort Monroe.

30 Pleasant till about five o'clock. One year ago today landed at Fort Monroe. At five o'clock this eve a thunder storm set in. On picket.

31 After six o'clock A. M. hot and pleasant. The thunder storm continued all night. I never saw such a severe one. It seemed like one continued flash and peal.

June, 1862

1 A very pleasant but hot day. On home guard. Countersign Roanoke.

2 Still pleasant but hot. Nothing new.

3 Very pleasant but hot. On home guard. Countersign Madison.

4 Very rainy. Sent A. C. Howel, Vienna, Warren Co., New Jersey, a five dollar U. S. Treasury note, payable in New York City. No. 54307, Series 22, Letter C, Issued Mch 10th, 62. J. D. Potter saw me inclose the bill and give it to the post master.

5 On guard today. Countersign Clay. Cloudy but no rain. A very comfortable day.

6 Rainy weather today. Nothing new. Good news from McClellan's army; they whipped the rebels. A good many lost on both sides. It is also reported that Bureaugard's army is scattered. This is probably a reference to the battle at Seven Pines or Fair Oaks near Richmond on May 31 and June 1. Also, Confederate General P. G. T. Beauregard withdrew his troops from Corinth, Mississippi.

7 Very pleasant till evening when we had a thunder storm. On guard again today. Countersign Jackson.

8 A very pleasant day. Nothing unusual happened. Happened to let a man go past without examining his pass very particularly, so the officer of the day put me in the guard house as he happened to see me. It is a shame to any Colonel to have such a place to keep human beings. A magazine 12 X 4 ft., ten or twelve crowded into it, and no good ventilation.

9 Rainy today. On guard at the upper end of the Breastworks. Countersign Vicksburg.

10 A pleasant day. Nothing unusual happened. Have a slight attack of diarrhea.

11 A pleasant day. Had a pleasant time on picket. Countersign Macon.

12 A pleasant day. Nothing unusual happened.

13 On guard. Showery. All quiet.

14 A pleasant day. All quiet. Nothing unusual.

15 A very warm day. Toward night the wind came out of the Northward suddenly and fiercely, and began to rain.

16 On guard again. Quite cool and very pleasant. Had orders in the afternoon to carry our rifle to a support or shoulder, which is not in the rules and regulations. So I disobeyed and carried it at a right shoulder. The officer took of post at 3 ½ o'clock, put me in the guard house till nine o'clock P. M. Then I was to go on post, but I told him I was sick so I went to my quarters.

17 Warm and pleasant. Matters as usual.

18 A very warm day. Showers toward night. Last Monday a negro was caught going out with letters to Richmond. He had had a market pass but lost it.

19 Quite pleasant today. Nothing today. Matters as usual. A heavy shower in the afternoon.

20 A very pleasant day. On guard. No countersign. Camp was moved today to a point of land near the fair ground. Had to take our knapsacks with us.

21 Very pleasant last night. Very warm today. Had a long march into camp. Very hard job to carry our knapsacks. As soon as we got in went to work to fix our tent in good order.

22 A very warm and pleasant day. Nothing unusual.

23 On guard again on the breastwork. Hospital station. A good time. A shower in the afternoon.

24 Cloudy and cool. A heavy shower this morning. Thunder and lightning all night, but not much rain. A shower this evening. Heavy one.

25 Thunder and lightning most all night. Cool and pleasant this morning. Sent eight dollars to Mr. A. C. Howell, Vienna, Warren Co., N. Y.

26 A pleasant day but quite warm. Nothing to do. Matters as usual.

27 Very warm day. On home guard. Got along quite well. Countersign West Point.

28 Cloudy but very pleasant. Matters as usual.

29 Inspection this morning at six o'clock A. M. Had a little march. Had some heavy rain. Went and got some wild plums.

30 Very warm today; a slight shower. On home guard. Countersign New Madrid.

July, 1862

1 Pleasant today. Matters as usual. While there is no mention in the diary, General McClellan's Army had a series of battles from June 26 to July 1 (called the Seven Days Battles) and was forced to withdraw and give up their attempt to capture Richmond. The Army retreated to Harrison's Landing on the James River and evacuated by sea to northern Virginia.

2 Quite rainy today. Nothing new. Went to town. Saw nothing unusual.

3 Quite rainy today. On picket guard. Acted as corporal. Everything quiet.

4 Cloudy today but no rain. Nothing new in the camp. Everything quiet. I trust that another Anniversary will see everything quiet and prosperous.

5 A very pleasant day: rather warm. Was made corporal today. I don't expect it will last long, for I am not rough and profane enough to suit some of the officers.

6 A very pleasant day. Did not get a chance to hear preaching. Nothing unusual occurred.

7 Pleasant day. Very hot. Not but a very little wind stirring. Felt very unwell. Headache, caught cold. Very warm last night.

8 Warm today, but a pleasant breeze. Felt quite unwell. Detailed for guard. Was in charge of 9 men at the south end of the breastwork.

9 Was very feverish all night. Came into camp early: got a ride. Felt tolerable comfortable today. Very warm, but a fine breeze.

10 Another pleasant day. A heavy shower in the evening. Had a chill all the evening, then a fever.

11 Had no rest at all last night; was very sick. Feel a little better today. Quite warm today. A pleasant breeze.

12 Another pleasant day. Quite warm. Feel quite well; went out on dress parade. The chill came on about nine o'clock. I was quite sick.

13 A pleasant day. Did not go out on inspection. Felt quite unwell. Had a hard night of it. Quite warm today. Took some pills.

14 Pleasant day. Quite warm. Feel a little better. Took large doses of quinine to keep off the chill tonight, but it did no good.

15 Another fine day. Pleasant breeze. Felt bad all day. Still take quinine.

16 Another fine day. Quite warm. A tremendous heavy thunder shower last night. For a long time it was one continuous peal of heavy thunder and flash of lightning. Feel quiet well.

17 Quite pleasant today. My chill is broke for I had none last night. I am so glad to get over it so soon.

18 A damp disagreeable day. Some rain. Was corporal of the home guard. Got along first rate.

19 A pleasant day but cloudy. I and another fellow went and got some blackberries. After we eat all we wanted and picked our dishes ful, we hid them and took a walk. We saw two churches and two old school houses. And a few dwelling houses. Very common ones.

20 A very pleasant day but a little cloudy. Had no inspection and was glad of it.

21 A very pleasant day. Had a slight shower. Nothing unusual occurred.

22 A pleasant day. Quite warm. Went and got some blackberries and some apples. The Colonel passed me out.

23 On guard today. Cloudy. Some rain in the evening. As all passed were stopped, had to pass a good many out.

24 Quite pleasant today. Had considerable sleep today. Nothing unusual occurred today.

25 Very pleasant today. After dress parade, had a march in line of battle and a charge at double quick.

26 A hot day. Took our tents down and the floor up and cleaned all about it. Nothing else unusual occurred.

27 Another hot day, but a pleasant breeze. On picket guard at the hospital. It was night while asleep a lot of cats got in the house and got a fighting. Waked us all up. We did not know what was the matter at first.

28 A hot day. Came off guard. Had nothing to do today. Matters as usual.

29 Quite hot, but a fine breeze. Got a pass and went to Newport News but did not get started till 3 o'clock from Norfolk. Arrived at Newport News at six. Went up to see Lieut. Lawrence of the 9th N. J. but he was not there; he is still at Newbern. I staid all night with Wm. Hawkins.

30 A pleasant day. Cloudy part of the time. Slept on the feather bed first rate. Had a fine supper and breakfast. Left Newport News at 8; arrived at Fort Monroe at 9 o'clock. Went into the fort, then over to Camp Hamilton. There are about 30 hospitals there. Did not look natural there. Took dinner with Co. H., 99 N. J. V. Left the fort at five, arriving at Norfolk at little past six. Got to camp all safe.

31 A pleasant day. Cloudy. Rain toward evening.

August, 1862

1 On home guard today. Had a pleasant time. Nothing unusual occurred. Countersign Savannah.

2 A pleasant day. A little rain toward night. Went and got some blackberries. (I made a mistake; there was no rain.)

3 Pleasant till toward night: then some rain. Had a company inspection. Made a visit on Mr. Hilliard, a union man from N. Jersey; had a good time.

4 A pleasant day. Quite hot. A heavy shower toward night.

5 A pleasant day. On guard. Nothing to do till night. Then I had three men to keep guard on the road. Countersign Winchester.

6 A hot day. The long roll beat last night. All turned out and got most to the plank road when the alarm was found to be false. Very warm today. The regiment got in line in four minutes after the long roll beat.

7 Another warm day. Expected trouble in the city this night. At dress parade the Colonel gave us a short drill in street fighting. This is Norfolk. They remain stationed near Norfolk.

8 A very pleasant day. Nothing occurred last night. Went and got some blackberries today.

9 Did not feel well today. Matters go on as usual.

10 On guard. Countersign Lexington. A great many men were allowed to pass out. A heavy shower in the evening.

11 A pleasant day. Very warm. Cooked for the tailor today. A heavy shower toward night.

12 Another very warm day. Took dinner to those men who were out on picket from my tent. I had to do it or they would have gone without dinner. Got wet coming in.

13 A very pleasant day. Was detailed for picket. Guard was mounted at dark. Countersign Trenton.

14 Got along well last night. Slept most of the time. Quite warm today. Got back to camp about ten o'clock.

15 A very pleasant day, yet we had a little rain toward night. The paymaster got along today, after expecting him for a long time. Got all my money; took no allotment ticket.

16 Quite cool today. A great many of the men ran past the guard and went to the city. Detailed for guard. Felt unwell. Symptoms of chill and fever. Countersign New Orleans.

17 Cool today and pleasant. Went to the doctors. He sent me to my quarters.

18 A pleasant and cool day. Had a hard fever. Felt very bad. Head felt very strange. Felt a good deal sick to my stomach.

19 Felt a little better. No fever.

20 Improving a little. No appetite. Pleasant day. Our Lt. Col. Halliday died this morning at five o'clock. Army records indicate that Lt. Col. Gustave Helleday died of disease on August 19.

21 Quite well today. The Lt. Col. was buried today with great pomp. He was a free mason. A great many officers were present. Went on guard this night at the gate, although I am not off the doctors list.

22 A pleasant day. Felt quite well. Countersign last night was Beaufort.

23 A cool day. A little rain. Nothing unusual occurred.

24 A cool and rainy day. Matters as usual.

25 A little rain and cool. Was detailed for guard. Countersign Mexico. Had a good nights rest till four o'clock the next morning.

26 A very pleasant day. Rather warm. Matters as usual. Got off guard this eve.

27 A tolerable pleasant day. Nice & cool. Cooked today.

28 Cloudy; a little rain toward night. Detailed again for guard. Two corporals that were detailed were drunk. Countersign Monterey.

29 Pleasant. Quite warm. Nothing unusual occurred.

30 Very cool in the morning. Matters as usual. A little cloudy. Detailed for guard. Countersign Baltimore. Got the gate guard.

31 A pleasant day. Cooked for one of my mess. Mustered in again for another two months pay. I suppose it will be a month before we get it.

September, 1862

1 A pleasant day. A shower towards night. Blowed quite hard in the night and rained.

2 A fine day but very cool indeed in the morning. Detailed for guard. Got the first relief from 6 to 10 P. M. Had 8 hours to sleep. Countersign Monitor. Got along very well.

3 A very fine day indeed, but quite cool this morning and last night. On duty all day.

4 Very cool last night and this morning, but warm during the day. Hear bad rumors about our army before Washington, and my heart aches, and I tremble for my dear country. If the south gain their independence, I don't care about living. This is a reference to the second battle of Bull Run or Manassas on August 29 and 30 near Washington D. C. This was a major Confederate victory.

5 A pleasant day. Cool nights and mornings. Detailed for guard. Got the gate. I was to go on picket, but changed with Neville. Worse news today. I am so impatient and angry at the way things are managed. With so much money and so many men at command, it is shameful to think that the south are not conquered long before this.

6 A very pleasant day. Got along firstrate last night. Countersign Charleston. About noon got very feverish. It lasted 4 hours and then I began to perspire.

7 A very pleasant day. Got pills last night from the Doctor. Had a fever about noon which lasted a short time. The steward, Mr. Smith, said that I had better come into the hospital which I did in the evening.

8 Another fine day. Took pills last night. Had a slight chill & fever.

9 A fine day. Another chill today. Showery toward night.

10 Quite pleasant today. A little rain. Had a chill as usual.

11 Rainy today. Another chill which makes me feel badly.

12 Still rainy. Another chill; a slight one.

13 A little rain. A chill.

14 A fine day. A slight chill.

15 A very pleasant day. Quite warm. Had no chill. Felt quite well.

16 Another beautiful day. Had no chill today. We have another physician. He is assistant. Saw him today.

17 Another pleasant day. Feel better, although I am weak. The new Doctor does not think best to give much medicine. So I am not taking any.

18 A pleasant day. By my own request I was discharged from the hospital. Nothing new. Only good news from McClellan's army. This is a reference to the Federal victory at Antietam, Maryland, on September 17 and 18.

19 Moved our tents this forenoon, nearer the point. I had to help and it was a hard job for me. Got permission and went down the creek to Mr. Hilliards, who came here from New Jersey a few years ago. He and his wife are nice people. Staid all night.

20 Rained last night. Some rain today. Went to a secesh house and bought some nice large pears, as big as my two fists. They grow on dwarf trees. He had a great lot of them.

21 A little rainy today. A very dull day to me. Had nothing to read. (Sunday)

22 A pleasant day. Had a slight chill.

23 A fine day. Went on guard. Yet I did not feel well. But I got along very well. Countersign Lexington.

24 A pleasant day. Took the chills about 12 o'clock M. Had a bad time of it all night. Had a shower toward evening and rained considerable during the night.

25 A pleasant day. Felt quite unwell.

26 Everything the same today as usual.

27 Nothing new. A little rainy this evening.

28 A little rainy this morning. Inspection this afternoon. Feel very weak.

29 A pleasant day. Got permission from the captain & Colonel to go to Mr. Hilliard's down Tanners Creek two miles, and stay a week. But his daughter came home with her husband and took their spare room. But I staid there this night.

30 This forenoon went to Sergeant Dix's place up the creek a little ways. He has charge of the Creek Patrol. By his invitation I took up my quarters with him for a week. Sergeant Daniel Dix was in Goodwin's Company, Company F.

October, 1862

1 No diary entry.

2 No entry.

3 No entry.

4 No entry.

5 No entry.

6 A fine day. Went to the city and then came to the camp. Had a fine time with Sergeant Dix. Pleasant weather all the time. Made myself useful as possible. My health improved a good deal. Rec'd a box from H. C. Davis, Rockport, N. J. Some nice butter, etc.

7 A very lovely day. On home guard. Countersign Rome. Got along very well. Yet did not feel very well. A slight diarrhea.

8 A very pleasant day. Don't feel very well.

9 Another fine day. Feel a little better.

10 Pleasant weather. Feel very poorly. Had a good appetite yesterday and I expect I eat a little hearty. A little rain toward night.

11 Quite rainy after part of the day. On guard. Got along quite well. Wind N. E. commenced with a thunder shower. Countersign London.

12 A cold rainy N. E. storm all day. Got along tolerable well.

13 Still rainy and disagreeable. Nothing new.

14 A little more pleasant today, yet wind continues N. E. and a little damp.

15 Quite a good deal more pleasant. Wind still N. E. but no rain. On home guard. Got along well. Countersign Suffolk.

16 A pleasant day. Nothing to do and nothing new.

17 Another pleasant day. Matters as usual.

18 Nothing unusual today. Pleasant weather.

19 We have very cold nights. A very pleasant day. Countersign Antietam. Heard the Norfolk church bells ring. I thought of home, how glad I would have been to be there to church a little while.

20 Got along well on guard last night. A fine day. Matters as usual.

21 Another pleasant day. Got a pass and went to the city. Found nothing there to interest me much. Got a good dinner; that was all of any account.

22 Another beautiful day. Nothing to do. Time passes slowly.

23 Still very pleasant. A little windy. On guard. Had charge of three men out on the road. Countersign Manassas.

24 Quite cold last night. But I had a shelter, a fire, and a plenty of blankets so I got along well. Another lovely day.

25 Quite a pleasant day. Was busy writing letters and copying an acct. of a few articles I had sold. About nine o'clock P.M. Co C & D began to pack up for a march. They started about 1 o'clock for Deep Creek, 8 miles from Norfolk.

26 Quite a rainy & disagreeable day. Had to go on guard. At dark the rest of the regiment started for Deep Creek. It was very muddy in some places, but most of the way the sand was a foot deep. It rained frequently for a few minutes at a time. I put my rubber blanket over my shoulders, knapsack, etc. so all my body part was kept dry. Had a heavy march and a hard time, but got along quite well.

27 A little pleasanter today. Arrived at Deep Creek at about 12 o'clock last night. Got quarters in a stable. Slept in my wet pants and socks. The Regiment moved its camp to Deep Creek, a few miles south of Norfolk.

28 A very fine day. To accommodate the 1st Sergt I went on picket guard as Sergt. Only had a corp. & 6 men, and went about ½ mile. Got along firstrate.

29 Another lovely day. Everything quiet. This place, Deep Creek, contains 50 or 75 houses. Mostly old ones. A store, grist mill, blacksmith shop, etc.

30 Another fine day.

31 Still continues very pleasant. Nothing new. Was mustered in again for another two months pay. I hope that we will get it soon.