The transcribed journal entries of

Private Chauncey A. Cronk

"Chancey"

from June 1863 – December 1863

64th Regiment, Company D
New York State Volunteer Infantry

ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
HANCOCK'S II CORPS
BARLOW'S (Caldwell's) I DIVISION
BROOKE'S 4th BRIGADE

Enlisted August 14,1862 – June, 1865

Transcribed and written

by

Douglas J. Mergler

2005

Introduction
Section 1
Section 2
Section 4
Section 5

Marching Routes taken by Chauncey Cronk June through December, 1863

Photo of Chauncey's gravestone

Section Three

The third, and largest, section of entries begins on the page for June 10^th, 1863 and continues through to December 31, 1863. These entries are concise and abrupt but collectively they are very enlightening of events. Most entries are anecdotal with few of them expressing emotional insight.

At the time which Chancey begins keeping a consecutive dated account, June 10^th, he had been in the Army a full ten months and was a veteran of two major battles, Fredricksburg and Chancelorsville. Both battles had been devastating defeats to the efforts of the Union and were brutal engagements in the cost of human life. Luckily, Chancey and Chester just missed being present at the battle of Sharpsburg / Antietam, Maryland in September of 1862 having arrived as replacements to the 64^th shortly after that battle. To date the battle of Antietam remains the largest single day loss of life event in American history, 20,000 casualties in one day. The result of the battle was a stalemate between the two armies and prompted Abraham Lincoln to enact the emancipation proclamation.

The 64^th N.Y. was involved in the battles of Fredricksburg, December 11–13, 1862 and Chancellorsvillle, May 2-3, 1863. After the Union Army had been defeated in both battles they retreated back across the Rappahannock River and returned to their winter camp quarters at Falmouth across from Fredericksburg Virginia. Confederate General Robert E. Lee decided to take advantage of the two defensive victories at Fredricksburg and Chancelorsville, which resulted in good moral for his troops. He implemented an offensive plan to invade the North in an attempt to pull the war out of Virginia and further demoralize the Union war effort with a military defeat on Union ground, hoping to drive the Union to a negotiated peace and recognition of the Confederacy. As General Lee began moving the Confederate Army West and North through the Shenandoah Valley in late spring of 1863, the Union Army under the command of General Burnside commenced a movement northward shadowing the Confederates. Chancy’s entries start with this northward movement away from the winter camps of the Union Army at Falmouth across the River from Fredericksburg. The 64^th NY was held at Falmouth and watched as troops began pulling back across the river. As Chancey picks up his writings, he is camped in winter quarters, most likely living in a small log hut that sheltered upward of eight soldiers. In this section, Chancy begins making entries that correspond with the preprinted dates in the diary book.

Both Chancey and Chester survived the war returning home to their wives, children and farming in the southern tier of New York near Fillmore. Chancey served from the battle of Fredericksburg December 1862 through to the end of the war and was present at the surrender of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia at Sailors creek Virginia in April of 1865. He was promoted to Corporal at the close of the war. Chester was wounded in the lower left leg at the battle of Gettysburg July 2^nd, 1863. Fortunately his leg was saved and he was in hospital and on home leave for several months until returning to active duty in early spring of 1864. Because of his wound Chester was transferred to the Veterans Reserve Corp and served as a guard at a prisoner of war camp in Ohio. Both brothers were discharged in June 1865.

The pages for June 3 through June 9 are blank.

Brown ink June 10

We went out on picket and

took our knapsacks for fear of

a march, the sharp shooters kept

fireing at one another across the river

but not much fighting in front

only skirmishing and picket

fireing, the weather warm

11

This morning we are packed up

Possibly, (toward) ready for a move (twarge) camp

it sprinkles a little well we are

in camp and the troops are moving

we have had orders to be ready

I expect we will march before morn

I will write a few lines to Mary

Mary S. Cronk, Chancey’s wife

12

Well we are here this morning

but expecting to move and we are

ready at any time this is before bre-

akfast but our coffee is ready and

it is not a very nice breakfast

June 13

Now for picket today prety

warm on post Now thare is

one prety bold fellow Now

the play comences of shells flying

our men open (16 a) Lbs shot

on the rebs and silences them

it begins to rain our men on the

skedadle

14

Our men have all fell

back on this side of the river

we are left for pickets the

rebs are picking up our clothes our

men throwed away the balls fly

over here some by the rebs sharp

shooters it rained all night very hard

much slop

so we did not get (nothing else written)

15

extremely faded pencil We are on the march

by Stafford courthouse

a number of the boys are

sun struck we burnt the

jail and couthouse now

we camp for the night

June 16

We start off again

I think we are rear guard

today we are making coffee

we cross through Dumfries

and burnt three

buildings we marched

till about 10 oclock

camped in a greave yard

17

This morning finds us

on the west side of the

Occoquan creek a very

pleasant morning we

have had hard + hot

marching today. but we

reached Fairfax station

18

The boys look like

a flock of sheep laying

all over the ground this

morning

June 19

Today we leave fare-

fax court house and

start for Centerville

only about 3 miles

thare is some pretty

nice forts here

20

We left Centerville at

noon and marched to

throughfare gap 20 miles

we was prety tired

we lay on the ground

stones for feathers

but we slept pretty well

21

O I feel some lame

this morning here (is six or)

8 pigs I guess some of

these will (?his)

Switches to brown ink (hide) now we are going

on picket in the (morning)

June 22

We are out here

on picket yet it is a very

nice place for a soldier

we found two eagles to

day in a cave in the

rocks here I be way up

on the rocks a writing

23

Nothing again on today

only what little fun the

soldiers have we expect

our mail today I have

put a pair of taps on my

boots today I have got to

stand guard tonight

24

It is quite cool here today

Chet and I have been down

to the old mill and got us

a bully meal we had bacon

fresh beef hard tax + coffee

with some milk in it

Chet – Chester B. Cronk, Chancey’s younger brother

June 25

This morning we leave the gap

we had a very hard march

we came to gum springs

it rained about all of the

time that night I never slept

a wink I was so tired we

have come about 20 miles today

26

It comes rather hard to start

this morning but we have got

only about 18 miles here we

stop in sight of the potomic

to get our supper it looks

good to look out of dixy we

will soon be out of dixy

27 MD

Well we are across the river

we cross the river about 12

oclock now we are a cook

ing our breakfast we expect

our mail this morning

“We finally got to the Potomac River again and crossed it on pontoon bridges some distance east of Harpers Ferry.” (Sigman)

June

28

Entries switch to faded pencil We leave Havana

Havling M.D. this morning and

arrive at Fredrick city

in the afternoon we

lay here all night

At night we are 25 miles

above harpers fery

29

We are packed up ready

for (to) start this morning

but dont no whare

Switches to brown ink We have had a very hard

march today about 30 miles

Unionmill or Unionville we arrived at (unionvill)

I get thare about 11 oclock

Little were the men of the 64^th aware that they were on a march to the pivotal event of the Civil War in the Eastern theater of operations, the Battle of Gettysburg, which would turn the losing fate of the Union war effort and become known as “the high tide of the Confederacy”.

30

Last night I went on

picket the folks are

very kind here to the

soldiers they give all they

can to the boys for nothing

The following entries were made at the Battle of Gettysburg. The first two lines are written in brown pen the remaining entered in pencil. The entries were written in haste and have been exposed to natural light for extended periods of time. There is much that is illegible because of these factors. The 64^th NY was engaged at the Wheatfield on July 2^nd. This portion of the battle developed because General Sickles of the III Corps extended his battle line along Cemetery ridge out in front of the ridge and into a Peach Orchard. Thus stretching his lines too thin and too far from supporting reserves. The first division of the second Corp, which included the 64^th NY regiment in the fourth Brigade, was sent over to assist the now strained III Corp. The Regimental history of the 64^th NY states that their brigade lay quietly, second in line behind the 2^nd Delaware, under artillery fire for several hours before being sent to the Wheatfield. There the brigade charged the field forcing the Confederate battle line back into the Rose Woods. The Fourth Brigade held their ground until the Confederate line began to enfilade their position. No support troops were available to assist the 4^th brigade’s position, resulting in the brigade withdrawing in order, back to Cemetery ridge.

The 64^th suffered 97 casualties (16 killed, 64 wounded, 17 captured) in this action. One of those wounded was Chancey’s brother Chester Cronk, my direct ancestor. I cannot help but get chills thinking that my personal fate was determined that day by the aim of a Confederate soldier on the other side of that Wheatfield. The battle ended on July 3^rd with Confederate General Lee ordering the now famous Pickett’s charge into the guns of the Union line dug in along the center of the defenses stretching across Cemetery Ridge. Chancy and the rest of the 64^th NY that survived the battle in the Wheatfield were moved back to join with the rest of the II Corp on the night of July 2^nd. From their position the 64^th witnessed Pickett’s Charge, which struck the Union line a little to the right of it, and lost one man. Making the total loss of this battle 98.

The Battle of Gettysburg was the turning point of the War. The Confederates began to withdraw back to Virginia on the night of July 4^th. They marched to Williamsport and Falling Waters, Maryland and crossed the Potomac River there. The Union Army initiated a cautious pursuit that failed to trap the Confederates before they crossed the Potomac. Chancey’s entries that follow describe the pursuit. Some of the towns referred to in the entries are incorrectly named, such as Williamsburg for Williamsport. Notation is added to correctly identify the position of the Regiment while pursuing the Confederate Army. I have included much of Martin Sigman’s writings to assist in understanding the actions of the 64^th during those days.

July 1

Here we sit in the woods all

packed up for a march

Extremely faded pencil We came to (Tannytown)

The cavalry had a

hard brush with the

rebs general Reynolds

was killed (?) at night

we built breast works

General John Reynolds, one of the Union’s finest Generals. Commander of the 1^st Corp, was shot dead from his horse while organizing the defense of McPherson’s ridge on the first day at Gettysburg.

2

This morning we came

up to (the great) battle

ground (and thare) is pretty

( ? ? ? ? ? )

this day ( ? ? ? ? )

a hard fight and (took)

a great (many prisoners)

3

Today our regt

is not doing much

fightin but ( ? ? )

(clash to it) the shells

are flying pretty smart

I am (fianally) (? ?)

“Intelligence had been received from Gettysburg of an encounter between our 1^st and 11^th Corps and the enemy, in which General Reynolds was killed and General Hancock, who commanded our Corps, the 2^nd, was immediately ordered to take command at the front and our Corps came under the command of General Gibbon. This night we marched towards Gettysburg and met the ambulance bearing the body of General Reynolds going to the rear. At 4:00 AM we marched about a mile to the front and at 6:00 AM formed the division in mass facing the East. We were in a rocky wooded valley to the east of the Tannytown Road. The attack of the enemy was evidently expected from the right. A little past 6:00 AM the division was marched again out of the woods and crossed the Tannytown Road. About 7:00 AM we formed in line by brigade in mass, fronting west in a position about one half mile southwest of Cemetery Hill.

The first gun had opened fire a short time before this. In our new position there was skirmishing one half mile in front along the edge of a piece of woods and somewhere to the right there was occasional cannon fire in the vicinity of Cemetery Hill. As the day wore on the skirmishing worked farther to the left. Regiments were moving out and relieved the skirmishers often.

About 3PM it became general opinion that if the enemy attacked, it would be on our extreme left. About 4 PM artillery opened up on our extreme left near the foot of Round Top from batteries on both sides and also on our front and right. We were in the midst of a great battle. The infantry of both sides became engaged and the fighting was terrific. The enemy had been all day moving heavy forces around opposite our left, concealed by belts of woodland filled with skirmishers and was now hurling his masses against a single point without regard to sacrifice of life.

The III Corps first met and sustained the shock nearly an hour. One of our batteries had been dragged high up the mountain among the rocks and was in a splendid position to check the advancing Rebel lines and work against their masses in reserve. The V Corps relieved the III Corps and the battle continued about 5:00 PM. The battle seemed to be working around more to our left. General Hancock had command of two or three Corps, and he had said that his old 1^st Division, which was our division, should not be put in this battle unless it became absolutely necessary. This was because of its previous heavy losses and having always been placed in the forefront. We knew very well that absolute necessity would soon arise from the appearance of the situation a little past 5:00 PM.

General Hancock rode past us and ordered up the 1^st Division. We moved in mass by brigade nearly a mile to the left and formed in line of battle, left of our division touching the mountain. By a change of front our rear rank came in front and to any but well drilled troops this would have been disastrous. The division advanced in line through a piece of woods over a stone wall and past a small white cottage across a pasture covered with rocks. We advanced to another stone wall along a skirt of woodland. Here we were ordered to lie down. A battery passed through our line to the rear.

As soon as the battery passed the line we were ordered forward. We soon saw the Rebels and we fired our first volley and dashed over the stone wall. The Rebels fell back and we drove them through the woods to a road and another stone wall. The wall was running along the edge of a wheat field.

Several men from our Regiment had already been killed or wounded. Without the least pause our line charged over the wall into the wheat field to the edge of a gentle rise of ground. Our Brigade was then ordered to halt and lie down to enable the line on our right to overtake us and rectify the line. In a few minutes we were ordered forward again and we were firing as fast as we could load. It was a deafening roar, and it was very difficult to hear commands. It took some effort to start the line forward into another charge.

With our color bearers forward, and with a little cheer, the line charged again. We advanced to the lower end of the wheat field and entered a pasture strewn with rocks. Here Corporal Stone, the color bearer, fell dead. Stone had taken the flag from Mckoon, who was wounded. Corporal Blackmore then seized the flag, raised it, and brought it out safely.

The other flag, that was presented by the board of supervisors which had never been in a battle before, was carried by Corporal Zipple, who was wounded and it was then taken by Corporal Empy, who was also wounded. Finally, Lieutenant Chase of Co. A seized them and brought them out safely to the end of the pasture.

We struck another stone wall diagonally which broke the line and opened the ranks. It was quite difficult for the men to find their places in the ranks, but still the line kept onward loading and firing as we went. We moved across a creek into a piece of woods up to a ledge of rocks and chased the Rebs up the rocks. The line halted and continued firing. After a few minutes, we could see that we were far in advance of the line on our right and left. We found that we were under a crossfire from the right and left, and we were ordered to fall back.

Just about this time, Captain Henry Fuller was wounded and some of his men started to carry him to the rear. Just then he was wounded again and ordered the men had to drop him and save themselves. I think that Ephraim Bissal was one of them. Some of these men were taken prisoner. Joseph Charlesworth and Leroy Shippey were wounded and William Wemple was taken prisoner on our way out. After we got back from the ledge of rocks we came into the pasture we had passed through before. It was a narrow field and the Rebels were shooting at us from the woods on each side of the pasture. They had a double fire on us and it was every man for himself.

The Rebs took the rearmost of us and killed and wounded quiet a number, and some were taken prisoners. I think that was the hottest place we came across that day. If we had stayed at the ledge of rocks just a little longer we would all have been taken prisoners. It was useless for us to go so far ahead of the other troops on our right and left, and nothing to protect our flanks.

After we got back we took the same position in the front line where we were before we went into action. The firing continued on the left after dark. That night we slept on our arms.

Next morning, there was some picket firing along the line, and some men went out and found Capt. Fuller’s body. He was a good officer and had many friends in the regiment.

About 1:00pm on July 3, 1863 we heard one Rebel cannon shot. That was the signal for the rest of their (Rebel) artillery to open on us. They all commenced firing at our line at once, and some of our guns answered them. Both sides kept firing for about an hour. The shells flew all around us and killed and wounding quiet a number of men and horses. There was a fearful noise and roaring of the cannon. If it had only been one day later, we might have called it the fourth of July!

After their cannon stopped firing, the Rebel General Pickett’s Division came out of the woods in mass and made a charge for our line behind the stone wall and our batteries and infantry commenced firing on them and cut them up awfully. They still came on and reached our line at the “bloody angle” where our men had to fight desperately to keep them back. They finally broke and ran back for the woods, but our men took a good many prisoners that had got up so close and did not dare run back. I think that about ended the Battle of Gettysburg with the exception of some skirmishing and we laid on our arms again another night.” (Sigman)

July

4

One year ago today I

was in (Troy) O how I

wish we could gain our

Independance today I

lay in the corner of the

fence, last night on a

pile of stones, it rains,

nothing but artillery fight

today

“On July 4, the day past without any demonstration on part of the enemy because they were probably getting ready for the retreat. I think that they were pleased that we did not make a move to attack them. We were very glad to get a little rest ourselves. In the afternoon it rained, clearing up about dark. That night, again, we laid on our arms, not knowing what the Rebs might take a notion to do.” (Sigman)

5

Today I went

over the battlefield

thare was lots of rebs

in the field we (leave)

(Taneytown) today

we had to waid a

creek and lay on a

wet (bank)

“July 5, the report was, in the morning, that the enemy had taken French leave without even saying “Good Bye”. Of course we and the citizens of Gettysburg were quite willing to waive all ceremonies of this kind in view of their urgent haste.

We marched from Falmouth with about 208 men and went in battle with 205. We had 15 killed, 64 wounded, and 19 taken prisoner for a total of 98 (in the Regiment). Lieutenants Lewis and Babcock were among the killed. Colonel Bingham and Captain Crowley were among the wounded, and I think Captain Waite was also wounded.

There was much discussion by Northern editors, who, we in the Army used to call paper generals, why General Meade failed to make a vigorous counter attack after repulsing Pickett’s Charge. We felt, from the viewpoint of a private soldier that there was no such discussion among the hungry, exhausted men whose strong arms and stout hearts had won the battle. Critics writing at a great distance from the scene of the battle or a long time after it are apt to forget that soldiers have legs that get tired, backs that ache, stomachs that get famished and heads that get sleepy, the same as other men and that the capacity of an army is limited by the average physical endurance of the individual soldier composing it.

On the 5^th of July, the VI Corps stared in pursuit of the Rebs. Their Corps did not take much part in the battle for they were held in reserve. Some other corps followed later in the day, and the rest of the army was burying the dead.” (Sigman)

The following entries describe Chancey’s experiences as the Union Army pursued the retreating Confederate Army making its way to ford the Potomac river at Williamsport, Maryland.

6

Extremely faded pencil we are ( packet up ?)

I (would like to ? )

( ? ? ? also )

( ? ) we are a

(goin)

July

7

Today we received

our mail two from

mary + five or six from home we have

been out of rations today but we have

plenty now

8

This morning we started

(Taneytown) from (peney town) and

calculte to go to fred-

ric city but I don’t

believe we will all get

thare we are making coffee

at woodsborough now

9

We go through Fredric

city two rebel spies

are hung here we (leave)

the road that leads

to harpers fery and are

(Sharpsburg) on the road (to) sharps

“We started from Gettysburg soon after and marched south towards Frederick City. We had some long hard marches through rain and hot sunshiny days. We passed through Frederick City again for the last time. Just South of the City in a field near the road, on the limb of a tree, a Rebel spy that our men had just captured was hung. He used to sell newspapers in our camps. Our men caught him giving signals to the Rebs and made short work of him.” (Sigman)

July

10

We are pretty near the

rebs I expect we will

Williamsport go to Williamsburg today

we leave this road

and now I can’t tell

whare we are again

but we form a line

of battle tonight

11

We start off this

morning we over take

the rebs and I am

detailed to go a skerm

ishing I have got a

bully place let them

come if they want

12

Last night I had

no sleep I have been

in this house and got

some beens to cook

well we have got

to advance

July

13

Entries switch to faded pencil We built breast

works all day we

feel pretty safe

and hope the rebs

will attack us here

14

We are a going on a

schermishing after

the rebs we drove the

pickets pretty fast

but our men are

about one day to late to

do the (nice) thing

Once the Confederate Army slipped across the Potomac River at Williamsport, the Union Army stalled out their pursuit. Both Armies fell back to tend their wounds and regroup. The ensuing entries are Chancy’s observations and comments as this regrouping and repositioning took place.

15

We start for harpers

fery today I am

pretty lame I have

a pass to day

we lay on the tow

pathe above (the ferry)

July

16

We lay on the towpath

(1-1/2) above harpers ferry

Switches to blue pen now we lay in camp

at sandy hook today

I get some new close

and had a great wash

17

Today I am putting

in some new pockets

in my blouse and writing

a couple of letters home

thare is a lot of dezerters

just brought in we

draw whiskey today, Bully

18

Switched to brown ink We leave Maryland and

cross the Potomac

and cross the shanadow take

our track tword frederickburgh !

July

19

Last night we camped

near the place whare we

did last year I went out

on picket today some

of our men was taken prisiner

by the greliles

20

Today we see the (1,30^th)

N.Y. regt we camped

about five oclock

I went up and see (Jahmi)

(Boney) and the signal

sky rockets went up to

night well I am on guard

21

We lay here in camp

I guess we mint leave to day

Switches to blue ink we lay here all day

July

22

we leave Bloomfield

today marched to ashbys

gap I went on picket

Paid (Pget) ten shilings and

Haul hall all of the raspberries I

wanted to eat in the morn

we see no rebs

23

The corps leaves our

Brigade behind and we

have got a hard march

to make 14 miles to

Manasas gap got here

about 1 oclock mud to

our, a (s-s ??) little fighting today

24

we have just got our tent

up not much signs of

a fight but we are drawing

cartridges (cartages) our rations is short

Switches to brown ink Now we leave the gap and

start for warrenton

July

25

We have had one prety hard

march today we reach salem

tonight and we have to go on

picket five of us got on

one post bully for us I

rains tonight not much

picket out of us tonight

26

we pass through warrenton

today and marched almost

to the station number of

the boys droped dead some

of them Sun Struck we are

in camp I am over to

the (2^nd ohio) John gave me

7 hard tax

27

I commenced a letter to my

friends at home today

Switches to blue ink and received some from

home

July

28

today I received some

mail I don’t feel very

well today, I must wash

some of my duds today

the 2^nd ohio is drawing

whiskey today

29

This morning the men start

Conscripts for Elmera after the conscrips

today I received a letter

from charlotte and sent

her and khile one

“We started on the march and got to Warrenton and went into camp. We were tired out and needed some rest. Six officers and men were sent to Elmira, NY to get some drafted men and substitutes. It was some time during the end of July, 1863. Some time after this we marched on south and crossed the Rappahannock River, to Brandy Station and then on past Culpepper Court House.” (Sigman)

30

we are out on

picket a very

nice place

lots of milk

we are called in from

picket and march 9 or 6 mi

July

31

we are called in

from picket and

we start this morn

and march about

10 miles I had to

have a pass for

I got tuckered out and

was prety sick

August

1

today we are

fixing up our tents

for they calculate

to stay here a couple

of days I don’t feel

very well today

2

we move camp

today just got our

tent fixed and

we have got to go on

picket – we have got

to go about two miles

but lots of beries

3

the boys have gone

after mutton I

hope they will get it

“When we got back to the foot of the mountain we marched southeast of the mountain and that night our Brigade camped in a piece of woods which we afterwards called Camp Mutton. Here we had a hard battle with a flock of sheep and some pigs, and every man was ready for his duty. There was a great slaughter and some of the men came very near getting floundered eating mutton. After dark we saw some of our men coming back into camp with about all the mutton they could carry, and some of them a pig on their shoulder. Of course the first thing the rest of us did was to find out where they found their booty, and we were not very long in getting our guns and starting in that direction. It was quiet dark and we soon came to an open field and met some of our men coming towards camp all loaded with mutton and pigs. They told us that there was not but a few pigs left, but told us where we could find a flock of sheep.

We formed a line and advanced in that direction and soon we saw the sheep and commenced firing and dropped some of them. We charged down on them and dressed them and cut them into quarters and each man stuck his bayonet into a quarter and we started for camp. We soon met more men charging down on the sheep and we were a little afraid they might shoot or make a charge on us thinking that we were the sheep. But we dodged to one side and let them pass by. We marched on into camp while the battle kept on raging. Men were going in and out of camp all night and some found a little honey. The men were cooking mutton and pork all night. I don’t know how long this “battle” raged but the time seemed quite short to us because we enjoyed it more than any other battle we ever were in. Our losses were very light with the exception of some of our men who came very near floundering from eating mutton for about a week after that. In the morning, just about the time we were ready to start our days march, an old man came up to our Brigade Commander with a horse hitched to an old two wheeled dump cart picking up sheep pelts. He complained about our men killing his sheep and pigs, and he wanted his pay for them. Our Brigade Commander told him that his men did not do it, and told the old man that the Irish Brigade must be the ones who killed his pigs and sheep. Our Commander told him where to find the Irishmen and the old man headed in that direction. I have my thoughts as to whether or not the old man ever got his pay for pigs and sheep.” (Sigman)

August

4

today we moved

in the woods

out of the sun

Chancey Cronk

5

Switches to fading brown ink today we came in

from picket

about 12 oclock

to night

6

we got our pay today

August

7

nothing is

again on to

day only to lay

about

(6 very large script capital S’s connected together)

8

Chancey

9

I recived a letter

from Edward (?)

today we had his

(bags come with Co)

(Charley) (?) (?) (?)

brown ink August

10

nothing to do

but play and go on

picket well I

got to fix for picket

one boy sun struck

before we start in

is very hot today

11

I am picking black

berries on picket

I don’t feel very

well but I have

not got a very hard

post

Chancey Cronk

of Caneadea Allegany Co

12

I am in fatigue today

cutting brush for

to fix up our tents

August

13

laying in camp all

quiet I have got a

letter ready to send

home and one to

Marlin Barber

14

well we have

got to go on picket

right? we came (reots) on

the 145 + 2^nd del

we only had to go about

1 ½ miles and 6 of us

got on one post

15

Charley Bishop + I

went on in front

of the lines about 2

miles and got some

milk to drink

August

16

we are under marching

orders but I don’t

think we will march

today the old chaplain

gives up carrien the mail

today because the boys

wont pay him the old fool

17

this morning I got

up early and went

to washed my shirt +

Switches to blue ink drawers well I will

have some potatoes for

supper and fix myself

for picket in the morning

it is quite cool here tonight

18

yesterday we went on

picket we releved 2^nd

Division Div we had to go about

five miles but we had

a bully place after we

got thare a good place to

write I wrote the (mert of th )

August

19

Fading pencil we have come

in camp and

today is the

first day we

have drilled

any

20

we went out

and drilled early

this morning

the word came

pack up but the

order is counter

manded, bully

21

today we have

got to go on

picket again

a boy out of the 2^nd

Division Div was shot today

for derserten

August

22

I am (down) in

the (merch) (mrstiy)

last night about

(thirt) of the conscr-

ips derserted on

picket I get a letter

from home this morn

23

brown ink Sunday I have

been in camp all

day today it is a very

warm day I have wrote

a letter to my wife today

I lent Albert Johnson

one dollar today Chan.

24

Monday (well)

I have been a washing

my close the conscrips

are packing up stuff

for there tents

August

25

everything is

all wright in camp

today rather cool

for this country + time

of year we are fixing

up our tents today

written by Chancey Cronk

26

I have nothing to

do only to write today

till night then I

have to go on

head quarters guard

it rains a little

but we have a very good place

27

the 6^th NY cavalry

leaves here today

(the ordelys) for their

regt. I received a letter

from mart in Babcock

August

28

on guard today two men

was shot today out of the

2^nd div for deserting

it looked rather hard

I received a letter from

Edward + Chester today

Mr. Chancey A Cronk

of Caneadea Allegany Co.

29

I have just been to the

(61^st or 81^st) sutlers I bought me

a box of cigars to sell I

will answer (al) my letters of

the 28 today to my brother

tonight I had a letter

from my wife I have got

to go on guard tonight

30

today is Sunday

I have wrote a letter

today I have sold 14

cans of milk

Chancey

August

31

we have got to

start off this morning

we went to U.S. ford

we marched about

20 miles we stoped

on the road and

mustered for pay

we got corn + a few

apples + peaches on

our way it is vey

dusty here now

September

1

today I went over

to the glod mines

and after some corn

the guard drove us

out of the field

we lay here (by) the

fort one man shot

last night

2

I don’t feel very

well today ( S )

Harry Smith and I

went up by the

(mines) and got our

diner we had to

pay fifty cents

3

one year ago today

we left Rushford

and went to Elmira

well our rations

have come

September

4

Friday we start for

camp today we

have had prety

easy times out on

this trip no beer

for us when we

get in Chancey

5

this morning we

have an inspection

of everything I received

two letters tonight

I will answer one

to mary tonight

6

We are out on

picket today at

night I went out in

front about 3 miles

after corn I sent five

dollars to mary today

September

7

we have come in

from picket I have

two letters for me

one from Abram

one from Leander

I will answer some of

them today

8

Blank

9

Blank

September

10

faint pencil All quiet

today

11

some talk of

a move

12

today we leave

our old camp

and go to the river

I am prety sick

today

September

13

this morning we

cross the Raphanoc

river the cavalry

had quite a fight to

day they captured

3 peaces of artillery

and gunners

14

we are in camp

at cullpepper now

15

today we went

about 4 miles

west of the City

(+ went) on picket

September

16

fading pencil The 16 we went

back (twarge) the

(town) we had all

the peaches we could

late at night we

went to the front

on picket

17

This morning we

was called in and

marched about 7 miles

+ our brigade went

on picket again on

the Rapahonic river

the rebs keep fireing

brown ink 18

We lay here in the

woods all day till

after dark then we was

relieved we had a bad

time going to camp in

the mud

September

19

Today we have byilt

us a tent and now I will

commence a letter to Ma.

new writing we lay packed all day till

just right then we put up

our tents just dark we had

to pack up to go out in front

20

The sabath I received

three letters today we lay

in the woods all day + had

switches to blue ink preaching at night we went

over in the woods and

cooked our supper

21

Well the news boy has

come + brought the

news for us today I

sent Mary a letter

September

22

very faded brown ink Today we got our pay

26 dollars I sent in

a letter ten dollars

sent to my wife five

are having a very

easy time (here now)

Chancey Cronk

23