General E. Kirby Smith

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Notes to entry 56:



May 14, 1865 - Sunday



This is an exceedingly beautiful day.



As much as like a Southern day in April as I have ever seen.



Everything seems really beautiful and spring-like.



The Boston Journal has an extract from the Concord Monitor that all regiments from the State of New Hampshire are to be discharged immediately and claims that it is (an) official (order) to Governor Gillmore from the War Department.



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Notes to entry 57:



May 15, 1865 - Monday



The news is this morning that Jeff Davis has been taken trying to escape with his wife's dress on.



No doubt he will have to start for Washington in a hurry.



Last Saturday J. Cook & Company reports the sale of 730's at over 30,000,000 (sales) and have a hundred sold this week.



The day is very pleasant and beautiful.



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Notes to entry 58:



May 16, 1865 - Tuesday



It is very pleasant weather and quite dry.



There is no news to speak of and everything looks dull and dead in regard to our

getting out of the service.



There is not much news to speak of from the seat of war.



The trial case of Herald is being tried for the murder of the President.





David Herald

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Notes to entry 59:



May 17, 1865 - Wednesday



This morning I make application for a pass to go home, and being a veteran I get it.



I go to the city and before I start for home become very much exhausted but I have good success in getting the Provost Marshall's signature which saved me considerable both ways.



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Notes to entry 60:



May 18, 1865 - Thursday



This morning I am home and feeling miserable with a bad cold which I could not tell how I became in possession of and which hurts my side severely everytime I cough.



It is very rainy this morning.



I guess a long storm is the result.



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Notes to entry 61:



May 19, 1865 - Friday



Today is very rainy but I am at home with my friends trying to enjoy myself with a

very bad cold as well as I can.



William and Samuel have both got alot of chickens which they think considerable of.





Chicken



They are both at work in ernest for the purpose of going west and I hope they get money enough.



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Notes to entry 62:



May 20, 1865 - Saturday



Today is rainy and wet.



I go to see Doctor Calvin Cutter about my town bounty which there are some doubts about my getting.



But the Doctor tells me he is a'going to sue the town and collect it so I shall be alright in the end.



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Notes to entry 63:



May 21, 1865 - Sunday



Today I am at home and the weather is still rainy and stormy.



My cough is now better as I can see but still very distressing.



Father and Mother go to church today while Sis, Samuel and William with Joseph, (who

will go to West Brookfield tomorrow) go to work for a man that they have worked for

for nearly three weeks.





Church

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Notes to entry 64:



May 22, 1865 - Monday



Today is stormy the same as several of the past days have been.



There is this week to be a grand review in Washington, larger then has ever before

been witnessed on this continent.



I expect to go back to the hospital today and wait for my discharge.





Grand Army Review in Washington DC



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Notes to entry 65:



May 23, 1865 - Tuesday



This morning still holds out rainy and wet.



I am feeling miserable having got a bad cough which hurts me very much and I am some

afraid of serious results from my side.



There is not much news, only that jeff Davis has arrived at Fortress Monroe under

strong guard and I am sure he won't escape.





Jeff Davis under guard at Fort Monroe

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Notes to entry 66:



May 24, 1865 - Wednesday



Today has been very beautiful and pleasant.



There are preparations to muster out of the service about sixty-two men from this hospital.



There was one man from my ward that recieved his discharge papers.



(He) commenced a regular time the first thing and will mostlikely spend all his money.



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Notes to entry 67:



May 25, 1865 - Thursday



Today has been very pleasant and comfortable.



There is but little news except the Grand Review and the great trial of Herold and several others who were guilty of being concerned in the murder of the president and also the Ramstone has been given to the Spanish authorities.



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Notes to entry 68:



May 26, 1865 - Friday



Today is very beautiful.



I write to Charlie in answer to a letter he wrote me the 22nd of this month.



There has at last come an order to discharge all men that can get about in the hospital except the Veteran Reserve Corps, and all those detailed in the hospital.



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Notes to entry 69:



May 27, 1865 - Saturday



Today is quite pleasant in the forenoon, but becomes rainy in the afternoon.



I have a pass to go to the city.



I buy a blanket from S.S. Morgan for which I have given $3.00, and the price is seven that the government asks a piece for them.



I draw $10.00 from the People's Savings Bank.



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Notes to entry 70:



May 28, 1865 - Sunday



Today is cold, rainy and wet and does not appear like one of the last days of this month.



There is nothing stirring today and it seems lonesome to us all as many of us expect our discharge from the service of the Government.



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Notes to entry 71;



May 29, 1865 - Monday



Today it doesn't rain.



The news is: the last of the Rebel Army has surrendered west of the Mississippi River which includes all there is of the rebellion.



Jeff Davis will have to be tried before the most thorough men under the government, or that can be found.



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Notes to entry 72:



May 30, 1865 - Tuesday



Today is very pleasant and all are feeling light hearted.



To think that they are so nearly out of the service, but many of them will be sorry in less then three weeks after they have become citizens, that they had not stayed and taken pay a spell longer.



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Notes to entry 73:



May 31, 1865 - Wednesday



Today I recieved a pass to go home and stay until 8:30 P.M. June 5th, which will make it very pleasant to once more visit home and friends and stay five days.



There is some talk of musterning out some men this week on Friday.



Something like 25 or 30 men.







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Notes to entry 74:



June 1, 1865 - Thursday



This morning is very beautiful and pleasant.



I am able to enjoy it in a measure, but my health is very poor.



My brothers William and Samuel are at work; out earning all they can.







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Notes to entry 75:



June 2, 1865 - Friday



It is again very pleasant and warm, the first real appearance of warm weather.



I stay about the house, that being about all I feel like doing as I feel very weak and feeble.



I go with my brothers and take a bath in the river nearby.



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Notes to entry 76:



June 3, 1865 - Saturday



It is again very pleasant, dry and hot.



I have picked up enough so that I expect an invitation to visit Mr. Goulds about a mile from where my folks live and I find it all I can possibly do to get there.



They treat me first rate and carry me two thirds the way home.




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Notes to entry 77:



June 4, 1865 - Sunday



Today is the warmest of the season.



I make up my mind to attend church today and for the first time have a chance to hear the Reverend Mr. George, the Methodist clergyman in Warren.



He proved to be a smart man.

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Notes to entry 78:



June 5, 1865 - Monday



Today I feel somehwat better.



The weather has the appearance of a storm.



Father sets out some cabbages that he purchased at the meat market.



Today (By) noon I have to return to the hospital in Worcester where I expect to stay til I recieve my discharge.





Cabbage

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Notes to entry 79:



June 6, 1865 - Tuesday



Today is again pleasant without any storm to speak of.



I am feeling a little better this morning.



I obtain the privilege of an examination before the board, but what the results will be, I do not know.





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Notes to entry 80:



June 7, 1865 - Wednesday



Today I have a pass to visit the city and look around.



Some of the 11th New Hampshire Regiment pass through on their way home after three years of hard service in the field.



It is quite warm here now and it begins to feel like the south.



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Notes to entry 81:



June 8, 1865 - Thursday



The weather is again very warm and plesant.



I am detailed by the Doctor to take care of the low diet and the room where the dishes are kept.



General Grant is visiting New York City and some other places in that great state.



He is very well recieved by the people.



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Notes to entry 82: Henry mentions David E. Baker who was a private in the Army. His home was Chesterfield, Massachusetts, and was a carpenter by trade.



June 9, 1865 - This morning is very warm and pleasant.



I have another pass to go into the city.



I go and have a good time.



I return and loan 50 cents to Barker of Company H.



He now owes me 75 cents which he promises to pay as soon as he is discharged.



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Notes to entry 83:



June 10, 1865 - Saturday

Today is quite showery which is something the farmers very much need.



We have news that the 36th Massachusetts Regiment is near here and will be in Readville tomorrow morning, but the old 21st (Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment) is not with them as the government is a'going to keep the old veteran horse in the field.

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Notes to entry 84:



June 11, 1865 - Sunday



This morning is very cool and pleasant and there is a very refreshing, heatlhy air.



We shall very likely have preaching today.



We do from the Chaplain but I do not attend.



There is to be another meeting Tuesday evening and no one does attend lately.



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Notes to entry 85:



June 12, 1865 - Monday



Today is very pleasant.



I have a pass to go to the city and stay til nearly night.



I get very tired and worn out but I see quite a number of men I am aquainted with and I have a very good time.



I hear that the 34th Massachusetts Volunteers are preparing to come home.



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Notes to entry 86:



June 13, 1865 - Tuesday



Today is very pleasant and the news is: The 36th Massachusetts Volunteers are expected in the city of Worcester today.



They are to have colation furnished them.



I am called up to the Chief Clerk's office and give them some statement in regards to how my disease was contracted.



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Notes to entry 87:



June 14, 1865 - Wednesday



Today is agin very pleasant and cool.



At ten O'clock this morning I go up before the surgeon in charge and answer some questions in regard to taking my discharge and also about my sickness, and tonight the mustering officier's clerk has come and all men who want a discharge can have it.



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Notes to entry 88:



June 15, 1865 - Thursday



Today I have a pass to go down to the city and I take the horse cars and go to Long Pond and there see the little pleasure steamer (Echo) which is used a great deal by the popular class of people who are all the time laying out their money in some such way.





Horse Car

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Notes to entry 89:



June 16, 1865 - Friday



Today isn't very pleasant but it becomes rainy and wet before night.



I go and see the Executive Officier and he tells me not to be concerned at all about my bounty, that I will get the whole of it and six monts extra pay from the state.



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Notes to entry 90:



June 17, 1865 - Saturday



Today is very pleasant and quite warm.



The warmest I think that has been here yet.



It is one year ago that I was in the Battle before Petersburg.



There was then a good many men taken prisioners in our Regiment, the 21st Massachusetts Veteran Volunteers.



It is said the 34th Massachusetts have come home.





Battle Before Petersburg

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Notes to entry 91:



June 18, 1865 - Sunday



Today is again warm but there is more air stirring then there was yesterday.



I am not feeling one bit well today, but am having a taste of the old chronic diherrea which is very painful every time anything passes me.



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Notes to entry 92:



June 19, 1865 - Monday



Today I am feeling very unwell but manage to keep about very well.



The 34th Massachusetts started today from New York for Readville, and I expect my brother Francis will be with it and will be at home I expect before Thursday for good with his pay and everything alright.



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Notes to entry 93:



June 20, 1865 - Today is again very pleasant but I am not feeling well, but seem to began feeling quite unwell, and a little of THE OLD CHRONIC DIHERREA.



The news this morning is that the 34th Massachusetts started from New York this week, Monday morning, and it is expected they will be in Readville today.



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Notes to entry 94:



June 21, 1865 - Wednesday



It is again pleasant and warm.



There is quite a number of men waiting for the Pay Master and Mustering out Officier, but it seems that they are announced to be here tomorrow and so all the mustering and paying that is necessary (will be done)in a short time.



The 34th arrived safely in Readville yesterday.



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Notes to entry 95:



June 22, 1865 - Thursday



Today is quite pleasant but his afternoon we have a beautiful showery time of it.



The wind blowing violently but we have a sight worthy of seeing, and that was a rainbow.



I have some expected my discharge but it hasn't come and perhaps will not til next week.





Rainbow

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Notes to entry 96:



June 23, 1865 - Friday



Today is the most beautiful of the summer season thus far.



Today for breakfast and dinner we have fish which has been the custom since I have been here.



My brother has been at home two days now.



Ten men (were) discharged from my ward today.





Fish

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Notes to entry 97:



June 24, 1865 - Saturday



It is pleasant as summer weather could be.



The New York mail comes. but my discharge I shall have to wait for til next Tuesday or Wednesday.



The Pay Master will be here Monday to pay off some of the men who were lately mustered out.



The 37th Massachusetts arrived in this city today on their way to Boston to be discharged and paid.



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Notes to entry 98: This is the last entry of the main part of the diary.



June 25, 1865 - Sunday



It is again very beautiful weather.



Everything looks green and like summer.



Francis will be here tomorrow or next day on his way to Readville to get his discharge and be paid his monthly wages and $75.00 bounty.



There will be services here today I suppose as usual every Sabbath.



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End of Henry Sherman's 1865 diary