Diaries and Journals
Maggie Gehrke with travel journal.
RG0849-6 97 98, sf 92202
The word diary is from the Latin diarium or "daily allowance."
In China, as far back as 56 A.D., journals were kept as documents.
And in tenth century Japan, "pillowbooks," so named
because they were kept in the bedchambers of courtesans, recorded
poetry and dreams as well as actual events.
In Europe during the Renaissance, well-to-do
young men kept travel journals.
Soldiers recorded their experiences during the French and Indian
Wars and the American Revolution. And in America, explorers and
settlers moving west documented their travel, in part to aid
those who followed them into the wilderness.
By the mid-seventeenth century, the
personal journal or diary emerged,
a tool with which their authors tried to make sense and order
of their world and for those of a religious mind, record their
personal failings and give thanks for blessings received. In
secular matters, diaries recorded some of the most important
events of the day, oftentimes from the point of view and in the
words of the people most directly involved.
As education became common and the materials
with which to write became affordable,
the number of diaries increased. By the late nineteenth and early
twentieth centuries, men and women of almost all economic and
social classes were recording their daily, or near daily, activities,
thoughts, and aspirations. In the twenty-first century, diaries
continue to be kept in traditional volumes, and ever-changing
electronic formats offer diarists new ways to record their lives.
Diary of J.A. Hill,
Civil War Soldier
Hundreds of Civil War diaries expand
our understanding of the war from
the soldiers' point of view. These diaries are revealing, not
just for their accounts of battles and hardships, but for what
they tell us about the tedium of life in camp and on the march,
the frustration at the delay in getting accurate news about the
progress of the war, and the relief of discharge, realizing that
you had survived to return to family and friends.
Born in 1845 in Illinois, James Hill
came west to Nebraska in 1867 after
serving for three years in the 102nd Illinois Volunteers. Hill
purchased a small tract of land northwest of Falls City, ultimately
increasing his holdings to 640 acres. He married twice, and in
1905 retired to Falls City, where he died in 1925.
James Hill noted on the front cover that he purchased his first diary for 60 cents
on February 24, 1864, at Camp Butler in Springfield, Illinois.
Even though he did not have the book in his possession until
late February, he felt compelled to add entries for January and
most of February from memory, and for some dates he notes:
This and several following
days are left blank because I did not keep a diary at that time.
Hill delayed enlistment because of an unspecified
illness. When he did join his unit,
he quickly found himself in the hospital.
Feb. 4, 1864
To day I went to
what they call the Hospital it is no better than the barracks
all of the Hospitals are full we have to sleep on boards.
In addition to his health woes, which continued through the entire time of his
service, Hill's diaries include information on camp life, occasional
skirmishes, lists of his expenses, and finally his discharge
from the army. His entries are notable, not for their dramatic
accounts of battle, but rather for his description of the tedium
that was daily life in camp.
To day staid in camp
all day and done nothing
We had inspection by General Ward and some other officers.
I got a gun to day to day is clear and pleasant
Thursday, March 23, 1865
In camp all day.
we had a beautiful day. I saw some rebel soldiers this evening
on their way home. They say that the rebel cause is gone up
Wednesday 12, 1865
Glorious news this
morning Richmond & Petersburg ours and 30 thousand prisoners.
I was engaged getting boards to build my tent larger
Raleigh N.C. Apr 29th (1865)
To day I am staying at our Div
Hospital waiting for transportation to Washington. The war is
over and we are all going Home. The Div is going to march through.
We will most probably leave here to night and then good bye to
Dixies Land I will go home and be a citizen once more The city
of Raleigh is in mourning to day for the death of President Lincoln
they are firing a gun every half hour all day
Hospital Boat H.S. Spaulding May
I am on my journey Home
to day We are pursueing our way at sea off the coast of Virginia
I begin to think that I will see my home once more. I am troubled
with Dropsy in my abdomen One year ago to day our Colonel came
to us at Wauhatchie Station Tenn and gave us marching orders
for that great campaign against Atlanta since that time I have
passed through some rough times but I expect to go home now to
Long after the war had ended and James
Hill had moved on to a new life in Nebraska, he reread his diaries and recalled his life as
a soldier. Tucked away in the back of his 1865 diary are two
entries from 1869 and 1871, in which he reflects on his life
as recorded in these volumes:
Feb 2nd 1869
To day I inspected these books
and find a good many things here which awaken old thoughts and
feelings and also I see evidences of past Hopes which are now
blasted forever James
March 29th 1874
Inspected these books
again and am resolved to lead a different life in the future. J.A.
Diaries and Journals
J.A. Hill, Civil War
W. Richards, Surveyor
J.S. Morton, Statesman
Sara J. Price, Teacher
W. Danley, Businessman
J. & E. Green, Farmers
S. Buck, Farm Wife
S. & E. Allis,
E. & L. Correll,
W.J. Bryan, Orator
Lucy Drexel, Student
Viola Barnes, Student
Willa Cather, Author
C. Calvert, Educator
Myrtle Soulier, Student
B. Watson, Porter
Margaret and Edward
Frances M. Creech,
Sierra Nevada Bunnell,