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1864 Diary of James McCulley, 1st Regiment Light Artillery, Battery D. He was mustered into service on August 20, 1862, age 25. He survived the Civil War and died December 7, 1919 at Elm Grove, W. Va.
Battery \"D\" Light Artillery, was organized at Wheeling, Va., August 20,1862. Attached to Railroad District of Va., Dept. of Ohio, to January, 1863. Milroy\'s Command, Wincester, Va., 8th Army Corps, Middle Dept., to February, 1863. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 8th Army Corp, to June, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 8th Army Corps, June, 1863. Mulligan\'s Brigade, Dept. of W. Va., to December, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, W. Va., to March, 1864. 2nd Infantry Division, W. Va., to May, 1864. Artillery Brigade, W. Va., to August, 1864. Wheeling, W. Va., to September, 1864. Parkersburg, W. Va., to April, 1865. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, W. Va., to June, 1865.
Service: Duty at Parkersburg, Va., till January, 1863. Moved to Wincester, Va., duty there till June, 1863. Scouts to Strasburg, April 20 and April 25 - 29. Operations in Shenandoah Valley April 22 - 29. Scouts to Moorefield and into Hampshire County May 4 - 9.battle of Wincester June 13 - 15. At Bloody Run., Pa., till July. At Wheeling, w. Va., till August 31. At New Creek till April, 1864. Operations in Hampshire and Hardy Counties against Rosser January 27 - February 7, 1864. Ordered to Burlington April 3, thence to Martinsburg. Sigel\'s Expedition from Martinsburg to New Market April 30 - May 16. Battle of New Market May 15. Advance to Staunton May 24 - June 6. Piedmont June 5. Occupation of Staunton June 6. Hunter\'s Raid on Lynchburg June 6 - July 1. Near Lynchburg June 14. Diamond Hill June 17. Lynchburg June 17 - 18. Liberty June 19. Buford\'s Gap June 20. Salem June 21. At Wheeling, W. Va., August 8 to September 13 and at Parkersburg, W. Va., to June, 1865. Mustered out June, 27, 1865.
Losses: The 1st Virginia, later West Virginia, Light Artillery Regiment lost 33 men, killed and died of wounds; 131 men, died of disease, accident or in prison; total deaths, 164 men. (From all 8 batteries)
Diary date line begins...Friday, January 1, 1864.
Date line.....SUNDAY, JANUARY 3, 1864, reported the wagon train has been captured between this and Petersburg Battery.....Monday, January 4, great excitement about the place Johny rebs expected, soldiers and wagons running in every direction cannoniers ordered to stand to their posts at the guns.....TUESDAY 5, it\'s supposed the rebs have postponed their attack. No one ___ been ordered to go on a scout commanded by Lt. Chalfant. Went as far as Ridgeville ___ but the Johnies had gone. Saw where they had camped but went as far as Burlington but found no rebs.....THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, Rebs supposed to be retreating towards the Shenandoah Valley. ___ Lee left a note for Col. Mulligan informing him that he intended to pay us another visit when the weather would be favorable enough to move artillery.....Wednesday, January 13, 1864, wagon train left for Petersburg guarded by the 4th Va. foot Calvary and the ___ Mariland infantry.....THURSDAY 14, the ___ Mail reported to have been captured between here and Petersburg. The smallpox prevails in this place.....FRIDAY 16, all quiet on the Patomac.....FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 1864, took position commanding road leading to Moorefield, this road is where the rebbles have captured several trains and waited until the train had passed then took position in rear of train.....SATURDAY 23, started on the road to Rmoney, marched as far as Perkinsvilleand encamped for the night. Marched until 7 1/2 o\'clock forded Patomac 4 times distance 29 miles.....SUNDAY 24, marched to Burlington Junction to Burlington through to New Creek. New Creek road is in miserable condition,unhitched and put everything up for another scout distance 23 miles.....MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 1864,1st Va Calvary preparing to start for Wheeling the greater portion by pike and the rest by rail all of them are anxious to get home nearly all of them are veterans.....WEDNESDAY 27, lovely day that caused old reb General Early to advance again. The Captain says we have to hold New Creek at any cost.....Saturday 30, wagon train captured on the road to Petersburgh.....WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1864, left camp about 10 o\'clock arrived at Romney Junction about 6 hours after the rebs had passed with their plunder. Here we found Averill\'s force who the valley started in persuit encamped about one mile from deadmans gap.....SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1864, commenced cleaning for centre section left at 12 o\'clock commd by Lt. Haris destination supposed to be Greenland Gap.....TUESDAY 23, no revilee on account of the buglers being away at Cumberland..3 new recruits arrived from Wheeling fine looking men.....WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1864, Sargt ____ and ____ arrested.....THURSDAY 25, boys are on kind of a bender. Game of ball.....WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1864, rumors today of a fight with the army of the Patomac. Hope something will turn up to wake us up.....THURSDAY 3, fifteen refugees came into our want to go north today.....FRIDAY 11, General Segal passed through here on the train to Cumberland to take command.....MONDAY 14, General Kelly passed through en route for Wheeling. Has been relieved of command of Department of W. Va. by General Segal.....FRIDAY 18, Corporals of the guard have to stand guard 24 hours apiece on account of having to guard the fort.....MONDAY 21, the paper states that General Milroy is to command out division. I hope it is so for then we could get clear of Irish Jimmy Mulligan.....SUNDAY, April 3, 1864, traveled all night arrived at Webster..found the1st Va inf and part of Battery B 1st Va Artillery.....MONDAY 4, 15th Va inf. also arrived.....TUESDAY 5, Battery B 5th w. V. artillery arrived.....THURSDAY 7, still in Webster.....FRIDAY 29, broke camp and started toward Wincester. Franks wagon stuck in a mudhole and had to be unloaded. Marched allday and only got to Bunkerhill 19 miles. General Segal Staff and Sulivan along with us.....SUNDAY, MAY 1, marched as far as Wincester went into camp a mile from town. Coles Battalion arrived in the night.....MONDAY 2, lay in camp all day. Troops still arriving. 1 Battery and a Bitalion of Calvary. There was a fire in town today. Several houses burned, blamed on the soldiers for setting it on fire.....TUESDAY, MAY 3, 1864, rebs reported at Fishers Hill. Calvary scout went out on a scout went out with 2 guns of Battery1st Va art.....FRIDAY, MAY 6, 1864, Sgt Busby returned from Martinsburg with rations. Calvary scout came in captured several prisoners.....MONDAY, MAY 9, 1864, Broke up camp and started at 6 o\'clock in the direction of Staunton. Marched within a few miles of Strausburg distance 14 miles. Received news of Lee\'s retreat to Richmond. The people along the road are somewhat changed since we passed through last summer as prisoners.....TUESDAY 10, pioneer corps at work making a bridge over Cedar Creek.....WEDNESDAY 11, struck tents and started at 6 o\'clock marched 13 miles and encamped within 1 mile of Woodstock. Pitched tents in the rain had a pretty hard time of it.....THURSDAY, MAY 12, 1864, mail for the Battery arrived last night. There was a continual fire of Musketry Pickets supposed to be firing at loose Mules or something of that kind.....SATURDAY 14, wagon train attacked. Captured only a few horses, killed 3 of our men. Heavy cannonading at _____ gap towards evening. No news from the front.....SUNDAY, MAY 15, 1864, this day will be memorable day to the particulars of the Battle New Market. Left our camping ground at 4 am and engaged the enemy at 1 o\'clock near New Market. We returned after about 2 hours desperate fighting. J. R. French and Van Manner killed several wounded.....SUNDAY 22, General Segal relieved of his command and superceded by Major General Hunter making great preparations for move.....SUNDAY 29, marched within 4 miles of New Market from where two weeks ago we made a hasty retreat had to ford nearly every stream for when we fell back we burnt all the bridges.....MAY 30, 1864, Lt. Morison Corpl Moffet and 5 men went foraging. Some of the boys went to the Battlefield found French and Manner\'s graves ____ and sodded them they said they saw a tree in front of our position perfectly riddled with canister(?).....THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 1864, marched 20 miles left camp near New Market and marched within 1 1/2 miles of Harrisonburg where we drove Imboden before us and 3 times in day in line of battle but no fight rebs attacked the wagon train they made a fail 1 man wounded.....SATURDAY 4, took the Port Republic road passed over Cross Keys battle ground had to ford the river erected Pontoon bridges for the infantry.....SUNDAY, JUNE 5, 1864, left camp early and after going about one mile the Calvary charged the rebbles and temporarily routed them capturing some 20 prisoners. The army moved and attacked the enemy then made a stand near Piedmont and after engaging them for some time or 3 hours the infantry & Calvary made a charge and completely routed the enemy capturing several hundred prisoners. Battery lost 1 wounded had his arm shot off.....TUESDAY 7, left camp at 10 o\'clock and started on the Parkersburg road but only went about 5 miles when we turned back went into the same camp. Burned Depot and several othe buildings. Averill reported 18 miles from here and coming this way.....WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 1864, lay in camp all day. General Crooks and Averill forces arrived.....THURSDAY 9, went to town with wagon got lots of tobacco and other rebble property burned the warehouse.....FRIDAY 10, went to Gen Stahl\'s head qtrs. and left there at daylight with the Calvary Gen _____ in command. Marched about 25 miles over miserable roads.....SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 1864, marched and marched over the mountains. This was the worst road we ever marched on. Encamped on Tye river near Tye mills.....SUNDAY 12, started after daylight ran into Major Sweenies (Rb Bitalion and killed two and captured about 30 13 Wheeling is among the captured.....MONDAY 13, marched across the mountains to Lexington passed Bunea vista furnace (burned) joined Hunters forces at Lexington. Joined Battery. They were glad to see us and we were glad to see them.....TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 1864, left Lexington, marched to Buchanon Betetourt County, encamped on north side of James river. Found the bridge burned and a great many buildings. Marched about 26 miles.....THURSDAY 16, marched through Liberty . Averill skirmished all day with the Johnies.....FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 1864, passed through New London Averill fighting all day towards evening. The Johnies made a kind of stand Averills men charged them. Our men captured 4 pieces of artilery they were about as nice guns as I ever seen english Manufactured.....SATURDAY 18, all quiet until about 7 o\'clock when the Rebs opened up on us from their fortifications 1st Ky Battery returned the fire. Our Battery took a position about 10 o\'clock. The rebscharged U.S. About 3. Mills & durben mortally wound McGraw Pillsberry and Bardsley wounded several others slightly.....MONDAY, JUNE 20, 1864, Crooks men skirmished all day in the rear.....TUESDAY 21, marched all night and arrived at Salem at day light. About 9 o\'clock the rebbels attacked the Artillery Brigade.....FRIDAY 24, marched to White Sulphur Springs, James Harris died here about 2 1/2 am and was buried about 9 o\'clock.....MONDAY 27, marched across little and big Sewell mountains nothing to eat but fresh meat marched 22 miles found the supply train at last but not the Artilery supplies our supplies 6 miles farther.....THURSDAY 30, mustered for pay. 6 months due. Wagons went to Gauley, no troops stationed here but a few hundred day men.....SATURDAY, JULY 2, 1864, marched to Charleston, about 20 of the boys were put under guard for stragling ahead.....TUESDAY, JULY 5, 1864, marched to Ripley distance 28 miles encamped in the fairgrounds. Civilians haven\'t gotten over the 4th yet a great many drunk our Battery in front today.....FRIDAY 22, we were paid off today got six months pay verry exceptable.....MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 1864, heard that the rebs were in Pensilvania Averill driving them toward Cumberland.....
(Nothing noted from FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 1864 - TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 1864)
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 1864, mustered the company for pay.....
(Nothing from THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 - TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1864)
WEDNESDAY 7, paid 2 months wages by Major.....
(Nothing from THURSDAY 8 - FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1864)
(Nothing from SUNDAY 11 - TUESDAY 13)
THURSDAY 22, heard of Sheridans victory.....SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1864, ____ came down to take the Mcleland vote of the company and soldiers in general.....TUESDAY 25, took the vote only 17 for Mcleland out of the whole company.....FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1864, river falling fast Steamer Thompson high & dry on the banks of the Little Kanawha.....SATURDAY 24, Capt Carlin arrived from Wheeling last night on Steamer Peerless. Capt made a few remarks to men about pay & cannot be paid until congress makes another appropriations.....MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1864, great manny horses dying one died today.....TUESDAY 27, the Provo guard of the 6th Va left here and a Company of the 28th Ohio took their place.....
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