15 - 21 Jan 1864

Jan 15 - Study some on my sermon.  Wife's grandmother, Mrs Eades is quite sick with pleurisy.  Evening wife and I had quite a pleasant evening at Mr. Gates with Mr and Mrs Boner.

Jan 16 - The thin snow is thawing.  Studied on my sermon.  Feel a little better of my cold.  Elyria seems very quiet.

Jan 17 - Went with wife to our church in a.m.  Got on well in preaching on the water of the fountain of life.  A fair attendance and met friends after services.  Eve went to Methodist church.

Jan 18 - Quite a snow storm in p.m.  Did errands and called at Judge Doolittle's office*.  Read papers on memoirs of John Owen.  Wrote to parents and to Oren.

Jan 19 - A tremendous snow-storm all last night and all day until about 4 p.m.  No R.R. trains have passed either way.  Much drifted snow from house to gate.  Uniform depth of about 2 feet 3 inches.  Piled by wood house as high as my chin.  Exercised in shoveling it.  Reading J. Owen and Lafayette.

Jan 20 - Shoveled snow considerably.  Read in Lafayette etc.  Have friendly talks with citizens on army matters.  Enjoy playing with Lucius.  No mail or papers from Cleveland for two days on account of snow.

Jan 21 - Mil and thawing a little.  A good deal of sleigh riding.  R.R. accident near Painsville this week.  Several killed and injured.  Eve at Pres[byterian] meeting.  Did me good.  Our little boy is a great comfort.



*  Charles H. Doolittle was born 20 October 1814 in Middlebury, Vermont.  He was educated at Middlebuty College.  He moved to Ohio in 1840 and married Elizabeth Kemp on 25 Dec 1842.  Their Daughter Mary J. Doolittle was born in 1845.  The Doolittles moved to Elyria in December 1850.  Charles was elected a Justice of the Peace in 1851 and a Probate Judge in 1858, an office he held until 1867.  He suffered an illness and became an invalid, but recovered and re-established a law office in Elyria in 1873.  He was elected a magistrate in 1874 and held the office until his death on 10 January 1890.  Pictured below

8 - 14 Jan 1864

Jan 8 - A.m. went to members of the Sanitary Commission and told of the dirty cheerless barracks in which our men were.  Think they will be impressed a little after we leave.  From a technical defect in account could not get my pay.  Eve march to ferry but the rest would not venture.

Jan 9 - Sharp morning.  Marched again to ferry.  Men on it an hour or two.  I was chilly and had sick head ache.  Too much ice to cross.  Marched down off [at] New Albany [IN] and crossed.  Felt better.  Sleigh to Jeffersonville [OH].  Read "Edwards on the Sabbath*."



Jan 10 - Having left at 10 last evening we had a long ride to Seymour [OH] with we reached Sunday a.m.  Not seeing the necessity of my travelling on the Sabbath I applied for leave to stop off but Wagar disapproved.  Got on fine cars and were rapidly taken to Cin[cinnati].  There I felt very faint but got some meat.

Jan 11 - Dawn of a fine day found us rapidly nearing Columbus.  How merciful God has been to us.  Got home and washed up at noon.  P.m. hear part of Brough's* inaugural.  Have a very bad cold.  Men getting furloughs.

Jan 12 - A.m. went for [Col.] Wagar [Swayne] but he could not get my pay here.  He is nettled that the regiment's return is barely noticed here.  P.m. had a sleigh ride.  Eve felt very miserable from my cold.  Discussion on grate.

Jan 13 - Weather moderating.  Left at 4 a.m. but from delays we got to Grafton too late for the hack and I came on to Berea.  My cold a little better.  Evening got home same.  Found Ella in rather healthier condition than for a year and a half past.

Jan 14 - Ella at my request had forwarded my overcoat to Columbus so that I miss it.  Feel quite unwell from my cold.  Lucius is quite pretty and pleasant.  Mr and Mrs Boner called in at evening.

*  "The perpetuity and change of the Sabbath" by Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758).  You can read it here:
http://www.biblebb.com/files/edwards/sabbath.htm

*  John Brough (rhymes with ruff) was the 26th Governor of Ohio serving from 11 Jan 1864 until 29 Aug 1865.  He died in office of gangrene.  You can read about him here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Brough   Pictured below

1 - 7 Jan 1864

Jan 1 - A very cold day.  With regiment started for Ohio.  Our breath froze upon our whiskers and the road was hard and icy.  Passed through Pulaski [TN] and camped 8 miles North of it.  Men have no tents.

Jan 2 - Rose early.  Very cold.  The adjutant is much used up by the march.  Bread and meat are frozen in our haversacks.  In p.m. camped within a few miles of Columbia [TN].  Had hay under our blankets.  Quite comfortable.

Jan 3 - Not much like the Sabbath.  Better to move than be still this cold weather.  Passed through Columbia [TN] with music.  Over Columbia [Duck] river in pontoon bridges.  The weather is softening.

Jan 4 - Yesterday p.m. got Christmas boxes for the regiment from home.  Almost all had a past on delicacies.  Rode on cars to Nashville [TN].  At eve left there on box cars for Lousiville [KY].  Narrow escape from running off the track.

Jan 5 - A tedious cold ride.  No stoves in cars.  Kept warm at night under blankets.  Jumped about to keep frost off.  Snow on ground.  Hear of men of the 39th regiment froze to death.




Jan 6 - Awaked at 2 a.m.  Miserable from cold and in advance of regiment walked to Louisville hotel.  Very cold weather and sleighing.  How I enjoyed warmth and food after our trying journey.  I hope I am thankful.  Regiment has uncomfortable barracks.  Read etc.



Jan 7 - Snowing almost all day.  Sleighing in the streets.  Rewrote my quarterly report.  Read Olmstead's "American Farmer in England"*.  Some good Christian thoughts in it.  Visited the barracks.  [?] more comfortable.  Anxious to leave for home.

*  "Walks and talks of an American Farmer in England" written by Frederick Law Olmstead (1822 - 1903) chronicles an 1850 walking tour of England which Frederick took with his brother John and their friend Charles Brace.
Pictured below

27 - 31 Dec 1863

Dec 27 - Muddy, cloudy and rainy.  Fair congregation in the morning, considering.  P.m. Story of Moses and singing.  Photograph of Lutie [i.e. Lucius] came.  Eve p[rayer] meeting.

Dec 28 - Cooler but cloudy.  Wrote to Mother and Ella.  Called some in mess shanties.  Feel well.  A closing debate in eve.  Considerable talk and excellent feeling about the expected furloughs.  Some nervous, some fearful lest there be some slip between cup and lip.

Dec 29 - Fair weather.  The veteran business absorbs almost every other interest.  P.m. rode alone to the four mile trestle and at eve addressed some to blacks on their condition and progress.  How eagerly they took the hymn books and tracts I had.  Returned to Prospect a.m.

Dec 30 - Mustering commenced.  454 officers and men re-enter the service as veteran volunteers.  A few assembled for our last prayer meeting at eve.

Dec 31 - In forenoon mustering officer came.  A slave of strong drink, petulant, whimsical.  Offended at some imaginary insult, he folded his papers and started off, but Col Swayne followed and got him back.  Eve up very late and the room full of clerks tables and papers.  It is dark and stormy weather but we have joyful anticipation of soon starting for home.  Joy over one sinner that repenteth.  What love and kindness this shows in the inhabitants of heaven.

22 - 26 Dec 1863

Dec 22 - While the war continues I am willing to remain with the regiment.  Perhaps it is my duty to do so.  But my duty to my wife and boy and her wishes may conflict.  I will therefore wait till I see her.  Meanwhile encourage the men to re-enlist in an honorable, well-paid and not my hard service.

Dec 23 - Much stir about re-enlistments.  I feel willing to go for a longer term.  Indeed my master seems to need me if the regiment stays longer.  This on next day went to Co. B [could be an R] & C 4 miles South with Col. Swayne.

Dec 24 - Chaplain Collins* here selling his book and making speeches.  Eve society met but soon adjourned.

Dec 25 - Christmas day.  Cloudy weather.  Mr. Collins with me at dinner.  Had a turkey.  P.m. he made a patriotic speech to the men and I followed briefly.  Eve a great dance by our blacks.

Dec 26 - Busy in study etc.  Visited in the batteries.  Distributed books in the regular one.  Hard to collect thoughts, so much "veterans" business is done.  Eve a good debate.

*  Rev. Gamaliel Collins was born in Provincetown Massachusetts on 7 Oct 1816.  He was ordained a Universalist minister in 1842.  He served congregations in Massachusetts and New York until 1854 when he gave up pastoral work because of failing eyesight and moved to Philadelphia where he opened a "denominational and miscellaneous" book store.  In August 1861 he became chaplain to the 72nd Pennsylvania Volunteers.  At the battle of Antietam his horse was shot out from under him and Gamaliel  received serious and lasting injuries from the fall.  At the close of the war he was commissioned a chaplain in the regular army.  He retired to Chatham, Massachusets where he died on 24 April 1891.

15 - 21 Dec 1863

Dec 15 - Lovely morning.  Rode to fort and bridge with Col Swayne.  Finished letter to W[estern] Episcopalian.  P.m. reading of a devoted and successful minister stirred me up.  Went and prayed, devoted myself amen.  New spirituality I feel.  Praise to God.

Dec 16 - Mild, but cloudy and showers; very heavy rain at evening.  Had a good p[rayer] meeting and a poor boys afterward at school.  Called on Col. Noyes.  A.m. [?]kend a window at chapel.  Four good and affectionate letters from mother.  A pretty good day.

Dec 17 - Cold and wintry but stirs the blood.  High water carried off half the new R[ail] R[oad] bridge.  Read some in L[?]g's Columbus letter from Ella.  They had been robbed at night of a watch and some money.  She had not been well but is all right again.

Dec 18 - Cold bright day.  Wagar inventing hot air engine.  Got on well in study.  School in eve.  Rode over at 3 to Mr. Motman's a citizen near.  An excellent family apparently.

Dec 19 - Cold day.  Ground frozen.  Studied as usual.  Eve presided at debating society.  Feel at times a great longing to see my dear wife.

Dec 20 - A little more moderate.  A.m. preached at chapel then with Brush left for Brown's Mill.  Preached there by the saw mill.  A number of officers and men present.  Courteously received.  Eve much interested in memoir of Adjutant Stearns, a Christian officer of 21st Mass[achusetts].

Dec 21 - Talked with a few on religion.  Bought poultry etc.  Got back to Prospect at 1:00.  Wrote Ella.  At eve a good society about re-enlistment.  This is as good a field for usefulness as I have usually had.

8 - 14 Dec 1863

Dec 8 - Rained most of the day.  Staid in the house almost all day.  Wrote to Uncle L[ucius]* and parents.  Discussions on raising a cavalry regiment.  Eve I presided at the debating society when the proposed constitution was discussed.

Dec 9 - Pleasanter weather, more enlivening.  Rode into country with Col. Herrick.  Saw two old men.  Roads very muddy.  Officiated at funeral in regular battery.  Eve a good large mail.  Letter from Ella.

Dec 10 - Wrote some on a letter to Western Episcopalian*.  Now regulate my food and have no trouble with dyspepsia etc.  Quite a relief.  Eve debating society.  Many wish to reenlist in cavalry.  Regiment paid off.

Dec 11 - Have evening school for blacks; does better than daytime.

Dec 12 - Rainy most of day.  Studied and went out a little.  Sometimes at a loss for out-door employment.  No sick and no papers to distribute.  Called on Mr. Fry.

Dec 13 - Cloudy in a.m.  Rained most of night.  Fair attendance at church and I explained the parable of laborers in the vineyard.  Eve a letter from Ella.  Some homesick but prayer meeting did me good.  Taught contrabands.  Rain all p.m.

Dec 14 - Cloudy and cool.  Have too little outside employment.  No reading matter to give - no hospital.  Went and saw saw mill.  Eve a real good debating society.  Read the President's message and Proclamation offering pardon to rebels below the rank of Colonel in certain terms*.  Major Parke here.


* Lucius Chittenden, brother to Richard's father Asahel, was born in Waterbury, Connecticut in 1794.  As an adult he lived in Washington Heights, NY.  He married 5 times.  His fourth wife was a Miss Lamson of Newburg with whom he had two children.  His last wife, who survived him was Amelia Lockwood from Stamford CN who he married in July 1866.  Lucius died on 21 December 1868 at the age of 74.  His daughter Lucia married Frederic Charles Blenkinsopp Coulson , Grandson of Lord Byron.

*  The Western Episcopalian was a journal of varying frequency published between 11 August 1853 and 25 June 1868.

*  President Lincoln's proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction of 8 Dec 1863 can be read here: http://www.history.umd.edu/Freedmen/procamn.htm