Civil War Diary of Elias Asa Robinson

CIVIL  WAR  DIARY OF ELIAS  ASA  ROBINSON

A Private of Co. “B”  12th Regiment – Wisconsin Volunteers
Submitted by Laura Shoecraft


Elias Asa Robinson enlisted in the Union Army in Ironton/Reedsburg, Sauk Co., Wisconsin on September 16, 1861.  This Civil War Diary covers only one year of the time he served.

Please note:  In transcribing this diary, I have taken care to duplicate as correctly as possible, the original spelling, punctuation, and use of capital letters.  He did not write in his diary every day.


JANUARY 1865

1 – Friday       It is very cold here today the citizens say that it has not ben as cold before in 34 years.

2 – Saturday   Black Licks       

                        Franklin Co

                        Ohio

14 – Thursday  we march cros the river and left no corn barley and no corn to army  rested at dark

                           Pocotaligo,  South Carolina

31 – Tuesday – we are laying in camp today about 25 miles from Beaufort [South Carolina]


FEBRUARY 1865

1 – Wednesday   we start this morning at eight oclock we marched  16 miles but have not ben stoped yet

                              the rebs we are camped in the woods about 37 miles

2 – Thursday    we march 12 miles and stood fricguit [frigid? or picket?] all night

3 – Friday   we started this morning at 7 oclock and marched 7 miles and then the rebs checked our

                    advance for a short time but they have fled

4 – Saturday   we layed in camp

 9 – Thursday   we marched 8 miles and camped for the night it snowed today

10 – Friday   we marched 7 miles we crost the river Adisto and camped  [Adisto River in South Carolina]

11 – Saturday   we marched 13 miles and had a skirmish with the rebs

12 – Sunday    we waided  a swamp today and flanked orangeburg [Orangeburg, South Carolina] and

                         drove the rebs

13 – Monday   we marched 13 miles and destroyed the Charleston and Columbia railroad

14 – Tuesday   we burnt railroad till noon and then marched 18 miles and camped for  the  night

15 – Wednesday   we marched 15 miles and crost the line of the fifteenth R. C. [or A. C.]  march

16 – Thursday   we marched 8 miles to the Santee river on the left of Columbia thare was heavy cannon

                            scuding in front of town all day [South Carolina]

17 – Friday    we took posession of Columbia the capital of the state [South Carolina]

*******February  16-17 in Columbia*******

18 – Saturday   we marched 12 mi today and riped up the South Carolina RR

19 – Sunday   we left our camp and pulled out in light marching order we destroyed rail rod all day

20 – Monday   we marched 12 miles and camped in the woods

21 – Tuesday   we pulled up our camp this morning and marched a 8 oclock and distroyed 3 miles of

                          railroad and marched 16 miles

22 – Wednesday   we marched 15 miles and past through swiss Krisough  [Spelling ?]

23 – Thursday   we marched 7 miles and laid on the bank of the Materee river in the mud and rain

24 – Friday   we crost the river this morning and marched 15 miles we passed through small town called

                      Libery Hill [South Carolina]

25 – Saturday   we marched 25 miles through the mud knee deep

26 – Sunday   we marched 12 miles

27 – Monday   we marched 14 miles and camped about 9 oclock

28 – Tuesday   we marched 16 miles and

29 – Wednesday    This boxes  Smith  [?]


MARCH 1865

7 – Monday   15 corn basket     1234567890 

19 – Saturday   Jame Macky  25.00

                          R. Klett           10.00

                          Wm Field        25.00

                          Stow                10.00

                          Fritz                    5.00


APRIL 1865

16 – Sunday   stayed over in camp all day.  News of the surrender of the “Johnnies”

                           rained some. considerable excitement in camp

17 – Monday   Inspector inspected  in morning.  In afternoon went to town.  was diaappinted

                         in looks of the town.  Heard of the death of President Lincoln

18 – Tuesday   In camp all day  Received a mail  A detail to clean up a camp ground

19 – Wednesday   Moved camp about 1 mile nearer to townhave a splendid camp found  bords

                               and put up a good “she bang”

20 – Thursday   In camp all day   Wrote letters & received a small mail

21 – Friday   In camp all day  Getting very tired of camp life want to move on

22 – Saturday   in camp all day dull and dreary in camp  Just at night received a small mail

23 – Sunday    Div. Reviewed by Legget as a preparatier to gen. review on the morrow  Quite

                         warm    all quiet

24 – Monday   Army of Tenn. Reviewed by Gen’s Grant, Sherman, Meade, a very agreeable

                          review.  In afternoon over to 1st Div saw G.D.S.  bry [?]  Orders to move in

                          morning

25 – Tuesday   Ready to move at 6 1/2 o’clock but did not move until  7 1/2 o’cl.   marched

                          along the line of   R. R.  marched about eight miles and camped  in the woods.

26 – Wednesday   Stayed over all day   Johnnies having signified willingness to come to terms

                                just at night heard they had surrendered  Bully.  Rec a small mail  letters and

                                c from Chet.

27 – Thursday   Took up line of march at 7 o’cl.  Taking back track reached old camp about

                            noon, a short camp jargin  quite warm  8 mile today

28 – Friday   in camp all day, but making preparations to march on the morrow, Reports say we

                      go to Richmond, Vir.  Rec mail Wrote to  C. & R.

29 – Saturday   Took up line of march at 7 1/2o’cl, marched slow all the forenoon, but pulled

                           out in the afternoon, crossed Wense [?] R. campinfg 2 miles from it.  13 mi

30 – Sunday   Stayed over all day.  Last night’s rain made it very pleasant, yet its quite warm


MAY 1865

1 – Monday   On the way at 6 1/2 o’cl  Passed through the town of Forestville. & by great

                        Ganet [?] College.  saw somw fine county.  Crossed Tark [?]  20 miles to

                        camp in the woods.

2 – Tuesday   Took up line of march at 6 o’cl .  Passed through some fine country.  Citizenry

                        mostly at home.  made a rapid march going 22 mi  camped at Ridgeway

3 – Wednesday    on the road  at 6 o’cl.  passed through Melway [?].  Good roads and good

                                country.  On rear guard today  marched 17 mi 7 camped in the woods.

4 – Thursday     Seayed [stayed ] in camp all day witing fo the A.C. across the river  The rest

                           was very acceptable

5 – Friday   On the way before day – light Crossed the Roanoke & Mineron [Meherrin] Rivers. 

                    Found the country showed the effects of the war.  25 mi too camp in a field.

*****they are now in Virginia*****

6 – Saturday   Did not start until rather late, 4 Div. in event    Very warm,  many of the boys

                         failed,  Cross the Nottoway R.  23 mi to camp just at dark.  Many of the Regt

                         behind

7 – Sunday   Took up line of march at 5 o’cl.  Pased over some noted ground.  Passed

                      Dinwittie C. H. & Tery Oak [Terry Oaks].  Saw some of the works about

                      Petersburg.  Camped 5 mi from  P     21 mi

8 – Monday   Took up march at 4 1/2 o’cl    Pasd through the defenses and  City of Perersburg. 

                        Crosing the Appomattox R.  Appears to be a good deal of busines done in the

                        City.  Camped 5 mi from P. Univi  today

9 – Tuesday   Took up line of march about daylight last nights rain makes good roads.  Saw

                        where had been heavy fighting in ’64.  Passed 4 lines of works guarding

                        Richmond.  Camp 9 mi from R.  10 mi today.  Went to city

10 – Thursday   Stayed in camp all day, rainy.  15th and 17th A C’s came near having a  free

                            raw in town, large patrols out of Ind Div. in town.

12 – Friday   Took up line of march at 5 o’cl A.M..  Passed through town with Grante [?] step

                      and arms at will.  Other troops in way so move very slow   Camped 7 mi from town

                      10 mi. today

13 – Saturday    Ready to move at 4  o’cl  and soon after on the road. Crossed the

                            Chickihoming [Chichahoming] R.  and camped on the banks of the Pamunkey

                            R. and two mi from  Hanover, C. H.    13 mi.

14 – Sunday   Called up at 2 o’cl to get ready to move but bridge broke and did not move until    

                        8  o’cl   Crossed Pamunkey R. found poor roads.  Camped on  Pole Cat Creek

                        15 miles today.

15 – Monday    Did not get started until 7 o’cl A.M.   Div. in centre   Crossed Tj River.  Quite

                           hot marching but made about 17 mi and in camp at 4 o’cl P.M.

16 – Tuesday   Left camp om Po River at  7 o’cl A.M.  Div. in [cannot read this part]  Very hot

                          Passed through the [cannot read]  and over the battleground of

                          Fredricksburg.  Crossed the Rapidan & Rappahahannock   Rs.  Camped 5 mi

                          from latter.

17 – Wednesday   Took up line of march at 4 0’cl A.M.  but did not get along very fast

                                until the middle of the day.  Extreme heat, many gave out.  In camp at 4 o’cl

                                P.M.      12 mi

18 – Thursday   Left camp at 5 o’cl A. M.  Marched slow, passed over some very high country. 

                            Saw where the camps of Armies rested at Battle of Bulls Run. Camped at

                            3 o’cl P.M. on Occoquan R.   16 mi today.

19 – Friday   On the road at 4 o’cl A.M.  Pulled out very rapidly.  Cool marching and made

                      good time, reaching  camp 3 mi from Alexandria at 2 o’cl  P.M.

20 – Saturday    In camp all day.  Todays rest is very acceptable.  Rec  Mail


***Pages are missing for May 21 through May 26.***

Marched in  the Grand Review in Washington D.C. on May 24, 1865

27 – Saturday    Farchiles  [?]

28 – Sunday    Silusby [?]   Gillespi  [?]

29 – Monday   Republican Majority     Vote cast   1.45       39

*****June 1865      Moved to Louisville, Kentucky

*****July 16, 1865, Elias mustered out near Louisville, Kentucky

*****He was given an honorable discharge  at Madison, Wisconsin

Last entry —“Freedom, La Salle Co. Ill. April 24th / 65”  Really doesn’t make any sense — except to him

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