June 6, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:

     June 6-Friday

     Weather warm as ever

     Capt came in to see me this morn and brought a letter and some papers from Jane the letters dated April 10th they came in a box from Mrs. Shipley. Jane says she sent me 6 packages I have only got one of them as yet. the rest I may get some time it all is to be seen. But the joy it gives me to get a letter from my wife although two months old no one can tell unless situated in similar circumstances.

     I am as yet no better and am almost discouraged. but it will not do, I must keep up my courage or go under, and I am not prepared to do that here in this condemned country.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
      Friday, June 6, 1862.
     Fine again.  one of Co. B. was shot by
     A picket on guard.  he did not blame any
     body as he was fooling the sentinel he is
     Dead the ball passing through his right
     Breast.  the steamer Diana came up the
     River last night.  the Steamer
     Saxon come up from Orleans with
     Stray soldiers & baggage for our regt.
     Regt. guard duty for our comy to mor-
     row.

June 2, 1862

Qr. Master Sergt. Howe:
Diary:
     June 2, 1862. Landed and quartered in the State House, over which we raised the Stars and Stripes. During our stay, expeditions were sent outside the lines, which captured stock, provisions and prisoners. This is a pretty place and healthy.

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:

     June 2-Monday

     Clear and beautiful day though very warm, but how much more pleasant than N.O.

     we are now on high ground at least and no doubt our health will be much better.

     Our Company has come in this morning from Piquet duty the first they have ever done. and it was the first time I have been so that I could not go with them. and I hope this will not last long.

     While I am writing the McClellan has come up the river with the 9th Conn Reg’t one of our best and no getting clear of it the story in N.O. is that the Mass 30 & Conn 9th can drink more rum and do more fighting than any 2 Reg’ts in the service, and I guess it is so.

     Comp.A detailed on Patrol duty to day. Co. D. & H. are on Piquet and B. on gaurd so we have now only 5 Comp. for duty to day.

     Went into the Hospital to day have some Chills, much Diarrhea and some Rheumatism, and am pretty well used up all though, for the first time & I hope the last.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
      Monday 2
     A fine day.  there is a party of
     Guerillas prowling round the outside
     Of the city.  a ???? to the citizens but
     They wont stay long our troops are
     Getting rather plenty all around here
     Above & below.  this is a fine place
     It is a great deal higher than the
     River and the air is better than
     It is down N Orleans way.

May 23, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:

    May 23-Friday

     As usual a very hot day, not much in the weather to make one feel smart or even as though he wanted to do anything but lay down and sleep or keep quiet. No place for a man to feel ambitions at all. the heat takes all a mans energy away from him.

     Business quiet done nothing at all to day, true there is always, something to do in the way of looking around, and some small jobs but nothing of any account whatever.

     No news to write of any importance. No news from the North for some few days. [Illustration]

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
     Friday 23
     Fine again.  our Co. have been out all
     Night on patrole duty and i feel some
     Tired being on duty 2 nights with but
     Little sleep.  our regt have a great
     Deal of Guard & Patrole duty now
     There was a member of Co B. fell
     From a 4th story window last night
     Have not heard wether he is alive or not.
     More troops come in this PM.

March 18, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:
     18-Tuesday

     Weather in the morning warm and pleasant. I say warm it is so warm that Apron is uncomfortable with either vest or coat on. if at home would call it a hot day.

     An Alligator was killed on the upper end of the Island this morning mustering 7 feet long

     2 ships came in with [---] this morning one of them had the 8 New Hampshire Reg’t on board they have been 21 days on their passage Gen. Ayer is with them as first Lieut of Comp B. he was in to see us to day

     Brigade drill this P.M. just as we got through there commenced one of their little [---] which are peculiar to the climate [---] into one of our peculiar storms of rain and wind lasted all night

     News of a Heavy fight in the west in which the Rebels lose 3 Generals and a large number of prisoners. our loss was very heavy. this news came by a Southern paper found in a schooner taken as a prize by the “Black devil of the Gulf,” or as we call it the New London.

     Ben McCullock is one of the Generals who was killed.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:

Diary:

     Tuesday 18

     Fine again. i am on guard to day

     The Ship E W Farley[?] arrived this AM

     With 600 of the 8th NH Regt. on

     Board they landed this evening and

     Had to sleep in the hay.  a ship & gun

     Boat in sight New London come

     In with a schooner as a prize we had

     A Hard shower which made the N

     Hampshire boys stare.  a lone[?] rail Roa[d?]

     Building to convey baggage.

February 17, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:
     February 17-Monday
     Relieved at 10 A.M. Rained in torrents and look as though it had just commenced it has stormed every day since we arrived except the one we landed.
     3 Rangers deserted last night in a small boat, belonging to the Constitution it is supposed they have gone over to the rebels, one of them is a nephew of Jeff Davis.
     Two men transferred to our company from Company B. names McIntire & Bailey
     Lieut Lovrien getting much better he went up on the beach and with a squad of men and got some logs for fire wood.
     The carpenters have gone on board the Constitution but she has no appearance of sailing as yet.
     The English Steamer has started for New York, 6 P.M. the weather so rough she put back to port.
     The 2nd Lieut of the Essex Battery has resigned he is a Frenchman. there seems to be a considerable dis-satisfaction among the officers stationed here.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
     Monday 17
     Storming yet our company
     Has to do guard duty to day
     This is the rainy season
     Should think we a great
     Deal of thunder & lighting
     The heaviest i ever knew.
     There is a large lot of vessels
     Of every description laying
     Off in the harbor.

Roster: Company B

The following is a list of all soldiers listed as serving in Company B of the 30th Massachusetts (1861-1865).  These names have all been taken a list I have compiled using names from the books Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors and Marines in the Civil War and Record of the Massachusetts volunteers 1861-1865, both of which are available to view at www.ancestry.com

Field & Staff + Company Officers: 1861

In the coming months there will be a great deal of information for me to add if not on a daily basis, at least several times a week.  Posts reflecting the time frame of 1862 will be quite plentiful, mainly due to the fact that I have two very good diary accounts to draw from (one from Henry Warren Howe as I have presented already.  I will add more information about the second diary a few days before its entries begin).