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