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1864 Handwritten Civil War Era Diary Albany Co NY Trip West to St Louis Omaha NE For Sale


1864 Handwritten Civil War Era Diary Albany Co NY Trip West to St Louis Omaha NE
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1864 Handwritten Civil War Era Diary Albany Co NY Trip West to St Louis Omaha NE:
$466.99

This is such a rare diary. Out of the 25 years of collecting handwritten diaries and having read over 6,000 of them, I’ve only come across about 5 (that I can remember) which were anything like this. The diary represents the incredible year of 1864, Civil War year of course. and every day has a full handwritten entry. I don’t know our authors name but there are several clues in this diary which will help in your research to find him.

I believe our author is a young man, possibly in his 20’s or 30’s. Not sure why he’s not fighting in the Civil War, although he does say he’s escaped the draft, but he sure gets his share of excitement living and traveling during these tumultuous times. He lives in Albany County New York or at least I think he does (which I’ll get to in a minute) and in the winter sells his farm and heads West going as far as Omaha Nebraska. However he spends most of that time in St. Louis Missouri selling rat poison boxes to the local businesses and working in a saloon. It’s really a fascinating read.

Let’s start from the beginning. The town that is mentioned most in this diary (while he’s in New York) is Amity. However he also mentions Green Island and is close enough to Troy to skate to it during the winter. In my researches I saw that the town of Amity is in another county then Green Island and Troy but I did see that there was an Amity Street in the town of Cohoes which is also in Albany County. So for all of you who know this area well, was there once a little village of Amity nearby?

In the beginning of this diary he sells his farm to a man with the last name of Flansburgh whom I found out was one of the biggest pioneer families in Albany County. Garret Flansburgh come to the area in the late 1700’s and owned a farm in Albany County. In fact I found photo on the web (dated 1911) showing the Garret Flansburgh Farm in Berne, Albany County New York. Is this the farm that use to belong to our author? I’ve included a scanned copy of the photo here just in case. So I think if you researched a farm that was purchased in 1864 by the Flansburgh family in this area of Albany County and try and see who owned the farm before that, you’d probably find our author. On an additional note I found some marvelous web sites with history and photos of the Flansburgh family and will include those web addresses if you like.

After he sells the farm he heads to Troy then on to Monona Iowa to stay a little with his father and mother and in April he starts his journey West; and what a journey. He spends a little time in Illinois and then on to St. Louis. On the way there he said General Sickles was on the same train and stopped at several different stations to speak. For those who don’t know, General Sickles had quite the “interesting” life to put it lightly. Sickles was involved in numerous public scandals, most notably the killing of his wife’s lover, Philip Barton Key 11, son of Francis Scott Key. He was acquitted having professed temporary insanity. His wife was half his age, he being 33 and she being 15 or 16 when he married her. He was also known for escorting a known prostitute, Fanny White, into the New York State Assembly and taking her to England while his pregnant wife staid home. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Just a nice side note.

While in St. Louis our author even mentions going to the Sanitary Fair which was a fair held in St. Louis to raise money for the troops. The midway was lit by gaslights and was awash in patriotic bunting and flags. It even had a fish pond for the kids and beer for the adults. The fair raised $550,000 to give to Union soldiers for hospital care, clean garments and warm meals. He also talks about the wild women and several arrests that took place while in St. Louis. He’s in St. Louis for about a month. Then on his way to Nebraska on the steamship is when things really start heating up. The soldiers even arm the passengers with weapons to help guard the steamboat.

He’s gone for a little over 3 months and returns home to Monona Iowa or thereabouts, on August 9th. The diary ends with him on the farm in Iowa helping his parents. At the end of this diary is a very surreal entry. In December two women come to visit (see the last entry below) and they can’t get home because their sleigh broke down and they had to spend the night with our author. On the next page of that entry, one of the young ladies wrote a poem in his diary, and it reads…..

“Of memories page the hand of death, above the rest shall blot. Forget, forget me if you will, you shall not be forgot. Martha E. Mitchell.”

And we will not forget. So, grab a cup of coffee, sit back and enjoy the life of a young man traveling west during the tumultuous times of the great Civil War…..

1864

“January 25th, Flansburgh, his wife and son came down and looked at the farm and then we went to Amity and got the Justice of the Peace to draw up writings of agreement concerning the farm. On our way Smithy and I stopped to Link’s. Wrote a letter to father and mother, packed the chest.”

“February 15th, Flansburgh carried us down to Troy with our trunks. I paid the toll and he got his dinner which was all I gave him. In the evening I went up on Beldin Pond with the girls and skated until ten o’clock. Staid all night to Aunt Eunice’s and slept on the lounge.”

“February 24th, Lay around the store until noon when I saw a drunken woman go over towards the infirmary. She soon came back and stopped in See’s store and dried her clothes after which she started up the street and all the boys after her. Followed her to ____and back by avenue then came home.”

“March 30th, Went to the city. Stopped into the Police Court and saw a man sentenced to the penitentiary for six months for beating a horse car driver. Read history in the afternoon and put a load of wood for Edwards in the woodhouse. Had a talk with Mr. Foster.”

“April 12th, Went to city, saw an amputated leg, bought a box and gave $4.00. Gave six cents for bringing it up. Read history.”

“April 19th, Rose at five, breakfast and goodbyes to friends and started for the west with mother. Changed over at Schenectady, Syracuse and Rochester. Arrived at Suspension Bridge, supplies out of satchel. Saw several pretty girls on cars. Left Suspension Bridge at 12 P.M.”

“April 20th, Rode all night. Got in Detroit at 9 A.M. then got on the Michigan Central. Got a seat behind a very pretty gentle lady. Road very dusty. Cars quite easy to ride in. Arrived in Chicago at 11. General Sickles came on the same train and spoke at different stations. Set up at Eagle Hotel.”

“April 21st, Arose at 6 A.M. Breakfast. Walked around till 8, left 9. Chicago quite lively. Plenty of soldiers aboard the cars. Got in Madison at 3 P.M. Prairie du Chien at 8 P.M. Supper at the Madison House. Met ____on board at Jonesville.”

“May 4th, Went after a saw to Mrs. Reeves. Came home put up a bedstead then went after a doctor for mother as she was no better. Dinner at the doctors. Rode home with him. He pronounced mother’s sickness Bilious fever. Left some powders for her to take. Father went to Bullshead.”

“June 1st, Breakfast then Cassin’s and I went down to the ferry and I parted with him to go to St. Louis just as the boat was leaving. I went quickly. The cars left Prairie du Chien at 9 o’clock. Rode all day and at sundown arrived in Chicago. Got aboard of the wrong stage and carried me a mile out of my way. Went back about and got to the depot just as the cars were leaving.”

“June 2nd, Woke up in the morning and found myself in Springfield Ill. it rained some in the night and the cars were an hour behind time. Got to St. Louis at eleven. Everything ahead of Iowa in the fruit and grain time. Found ripe strawberries and peas. Took a boarding house on 5th St. No. 168. Found that everyman had to carry a pass but I have not yet.”

“June 3rd, To Sanitary Fair. Not open. Came back and went to market, vegetables plenty, also fruit. Dinner. To Benton’s Barracks but few soldiers in them. It is pleasant place where they are situated, four miles from the courthouse. Went to the Sanitary Fair but it was not equal to the Albany fair. Supper to the Bowery Theatre. Rough set of girls, waiters. Bed at 12 P.M.” (He takes a side trip to Jefferson. Got application to kill rats. Found where his brother was buried then to the hospital where the sick and wounded were.)

“June 19th, Arose and dressed at night. Breakfast. Read till noon. Dinner, read and pondered till four then Chum and I went to the Lindell Hotel, back and supper. Walked out in evening and into water. Passed by St. Louis Hall where there was a Jewish wedding going on. Every saloon and restaurant is open. Dancing and playing is the go.” (Government sale of horses, Circus, watched Harry Leslie walk the “rope” tightrope that is)

“June 25th, The stores for poisons. Made some for rats then sold in the west part of the city all day. Reports is current that Hunter is whipped but has not been confirmed. Richmond is not taken yet. I went to Court House where the Fremont Widowmakers had a torch light procession.”

“July 3rd, Read newspaper and mended my pants. Fireworks and talking of the fourth is all the go. Supper. Went down to the Lindell Hotel. Saw a ni-ger (he spells it out) arrested for striking a white man. Came home and went to bed.”

“July 4th, Went to the Suez (?), saw several steamboats start with picnic parties aboard. Two regiment parades with new uniforms. The Catholic association turned out. A boat with rebel prisoners came in while I was on the livery. They were shabby. Dinner. Sleep till 3 o’clock. Walked around till supper. Fireworks at Everett House.”

“July 10th, Breakfast. Went to the planters with Britton’s. Came home and read till noon. Think I shall go to Leavenworth City in a few days. Dinner. Saw two men taken up by the police for fighting. Supper. Went to Catholic Church. Had mass which was a _____. On coming home saw a one armed soldier who had been hit by the face, bloody.”

“July 13th, Arose at eight. Breakfast aboard the boat. Up town. Felt a little sick came back to boat and slept till noon. Dinner up to boarding house. Saw all the old boarders. Came back. Started from St. Louis at eight, was detained by provost guard who made us take sufficient arms and ammunition aboard to defend the boat as she was fired onto the last trip up the Missouri River.”

“July 15th, Arrived at Jefferson City about noon. Was stopped by the guard who fired across our bow. Went up town. The state buildings are built on a nice hill. Everything dull. Took on board about 50 infantry and the same number of cavalry to drive the rebels from a certain (?) above her. Before dark ran aground several times but came out all right.”

“July 16th, Arose and found myself at Riverport (?), a little town north side of river. Heard that two bushwhackers had killed a farmer in the next town, Boonville. At Boonville found the story true and that one of the rebs was wounded. Passed Trask, Glasgow and Cambridge. Between the two latter places we put up barracks and prepared for rebs.”

“July 17th, Heard no rebs lasts night. Watched for rebs all day but saw none. Very warm. Left freight at several landings. Got on a sand bar and were over an hour getting off. Arrived at Lexington about sundown. Discharged a large quantity of freight. The town is quite large but looks old and dilapidated, altho quite lively week days. Saw the old battleground at a distance. Got a paper, found that 6 boats were burned at St. Louis on Thursday.”

“July 18th, Left Lexington at daylight. Passed the ruins of several small places. The cavalry aboard of the boat went 10 miles out at one o’clock but saw nothing. Reached Missouri City ____and come ____are partly arrived. Boats passed were Kat Kinney, Sioux City and Fanny Ogden. The Montrose over took us at Kansas City. Stopped there. Troops left at _____City.” (His writing is a bit tough to make out when he’s writing on the ship. He arrives at Leavenworth and takes a train for St. Joseph and then boarded the packet (ship) Leavenworth for Omaha.)

“July 24th, Awoke and found we had got to Omaha. It is a splendid location on a gentle rise of ground extending back from the river. Went up town, engaged board at 6 dollars per week. Saw a train come into town. The Capital is built on a rise of ground commanding a view of the city. Property is very high. Went to church in evening. Quite a turnout.” (He looks for work, boards in the saloon. Takes on miscellaneous jobs. Takes some jobs across the river and travels back and forth on skiffs and ferries).

“August 1st, Breakfast. Jack fired another man as I had told him I would not work anymore. Helped clean out the saloon and wash off the bottles. Jack gave me five dollars and 25 cts. Mabris Menezer’s (Now I’m not sure of his spelling for this and I don’t know if it’s a circus, a show or what) passed by the saloon and went to the lower part of the city and pitched their tents. Dinner. Took my carpet bag and went to the Mabris Menezer’s to board, supper in the show.”

He then leaves Council Bluffs, on to Lewiston, stops in Des Moines. Says that the buildings in Des Moines are mostly made of wood. Stage to Nevada then Cedar Rapids, Clinton (which he describes), and gets on board the packet Savannah to South Dubuque and Mc Gregor where his Uncle lives. He finally arrives back home on August 9th.

“August 13th, Father and I went to the P. Office and got a letter from Ed Schultz for me and one from J. Cook for mother. After dinner I went over to Jones to get some bags and carry some medicine to the sick girl, now 5, expected to die in a few hours.”

“September 20th, Hauled over a load of sugar cane to Tapper. It makes nice molasses but has been hurt by the Chintz bug some. Dinner to Tapper’s. Came home and paid Hagerty for the mare. To Bullshead. Got the mail. Heard that B. C. Freeman had given up his nomination in favor of Lincoln.”

“October 8th, Chauncey and father went to Bullshead to see about the draft. Found that I had escaped. Several of our near neighbors have been drafted. I greased or oiled the harness while they were gone. Dinner over Chauncey’s. I went to Monona, got paper and a pamphlet speech of Mr. Arth of Indiana.”

“October 21st, Put the mare in with B. Underwood’s ponie and went to the barbecue to Postville. Had a free dinner. Heard Col. W. B. Allison and Henderson speak. There was about 5,000 people. Everything passed off well. Every hand in their praises Abe Lincoln. Home at dark.”

“October 27th, It rained so that we could not husk corn. Chauncey came just at night, said he had enlisted for one year. He got six hundred dollars bounty from the county and three hundred from government.”

“November 2nd, Went to McGregor with mare and single wagon. Saw Chauncey there who is going to the war tomorrow. He bought ten or twelve dollars worth of groceries and _____. Mahoney made a copperhead speech this afternoon. The majority of his hearers were Republicans. He told several lies about the Union party.” (Election time and he votes for Lincoln. Says there was a great conspiracy on Election Day)

“December 18th, Read the papers. Miss Martha Mitchell and Dory stopped and ate supper then started home but the sleigh broke down and they had to stay all night. Also a teamster drove up and wanted lodgings so we had to keep him as he was drunk and could go no further. Mr. Slyter came up and stayed a short time.”

Then on December 19th is the poem written by Martha. There is so much more than what I’ve quoted here. It may look like a lot but out of the 365 days worth of writing I only quoted from 31 days. The two pictures of the engravings above are ones I found on the web and scanned them. I wanted to show you what St. Louis looked like at the time our author was there as they were engravings done in 1860.

The diary measures about 2 ½” x 4” and as far as the condition; the front cover has fallen off but is accounted for. Someone also put white binding tape (see scans) on the inside front and back covers. Then a few of the pages are loose but they are also accounted for. And it looks like ink spilled on the top pages but none of it affects the writing, in fact it only affects the edges of the pages on the top. But, imagine where this diary has been and because of that the condition is no surprise. I’m just happy it survived.


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