April 12, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:

     April 12-Saturday

     Great Republic and Idaho blown on shore last night but not damaged very badly. this morning is very pleasant but quite cool.

     3 men killed by Lighting in 31st Mass Regiment. one man knocked down while standing gaurd, at the Wharf. Comp K of our Regiment.

     Kanawha came in with 5 prizes. small schooners loaded with cotton.

     Washington reported wrecked on coast just down Island she is supposed to have a mail on board for us. I hope so. Quartermaster 7th Vermont under arrest.

     New London is with 2 prizes loaded with Molasses.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:

Diary:

      Wednesday 12
     Rather a cool morning the
     Pay master has begun to pay off
     Our regiment Our company
     Have signed the pay roll and
     Will be paid off this evening if
     Nothing happens.

April 6, 1862

2nd Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:

     April 6-Sunday

     Had our Sunday inspection on the South Shore. under Comp commanders. it is tremendous hot day the perspiration rolls down my back in streams and stands still at that.

     Three men who were drowned were buried to day. it was a solemn sight to see them dragged away. and only a few minutes before their death they were in good health and spirits full of life and anticipating no doubt their time when they should go home.

     Had orders to day to move but they have since been countermanded.

     Lt. Fox has resigned and also Capt Ferris of Comp D. Fox’s was accepted and Ferris not.

     Lt Col Bullock read into the Regiment to day. to be obeyed and respected according to his rank.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:

Diary:

     Sunday 6
     A very hot day had to go on inspection[?]
     Leiut Colonel WM Bullock was
     At inspection he is a very good
     Looking man.  they are unloading
     Horses today they lost 3 or 4 last night
     There was a large ship & Bark come
     In this morn.  the 2[?] men who were
     Drowned were buried this PM.
     There has been 4 burials to day ????
     From the Regts on the island.

March 13, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:
     March 13-Thursday
     Morning very warm and Salty the most uncomfortable feeling day we have had thus far.
     8 A.M. took our Company up to Major Watson for payment 27 of our men recieved no pay on account of an error of the Mustering Officer Capt Lemes not giving us the proper certificate to show they have been duly mustered into service.
     Today we have had our usual amount of drills our Brigade was increased one Regiment. by the addition of the Maine 14th they now much better than the 12th Me although a much younger Regiment.
     The Colorado attempted to come in to day but met with the usual luck and run aground. the same as [---] everything has that is connected with this division
     The Mississippi has not shown herself as yet.
     Ocean Pearl is discharging her cargo of horses today.
     Gen Thompson was in our Quarters tonight it seems he come out on the Black Prince when she lost so many horses. started with 153 and saved only 5. he is going to work for Reeves the [---] of Me 12th.


Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
     Thursday 13
     Got paid off last night i had
     55.45[?] cts. due me.  we had this
     Fornoon to write our friends
     I wrote a letter to send home
     By the fulton which sails
     This noon with the mail the
     Good Steam Ship Constitution
     Arrived yesterday with 3 regts
     On board from NewPort News
[Mem]
     They are landing to day they are
     A hearty looking set of men they
     Are the 4th Wis. 6th Mich. & 21st
     Indiana Regts. they were fired
     Into by the rebels from Sewalls Pt
     But not hit.  the men are all
     Busy writing home and sending
     Thier money.  a large steamer come
     In to day the harbor is full
     Of Vessels of all kinds a storm brewing

March 6, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:
     March 6-Thursday
     Very windy and cold this morning.
     A mail arrived here to day Capt & Lieut each had letters but I none papers from the north of the 12 of Feb confirm the accounts of a battle at Roanoke Island and it is a decided victory for us.
     Col Jones made a remark to his man that Beauregard & Jeff Davis were both captured but I do not place much reliance upon it.
     Robert Dale sent to the Fort under charges of disobedience preferred by me. he has been repeatedly insolent and saucy to both commissioned and non commissioned officers this I think may cure him. he was talking in the ranks against strict orders to the contrary. Corporal England spoke to him but he did not stop. but instead told said Corporal that it was none of his d-d business and when ordered out to [---] by me. he said to use his own words I ain’t going to do it. when I immediately ordered Serg’t Foster to take him to the gaurd house. this evening I prefered charges against him this evening as above.
     Tonight I find that there are some 27 men on our rolls that the paymaster will not pay on our roll. as we have no proof that they have been mustered. so I do not know how we can arrange it for them. but it must be done some how. for the men must have their pay.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:

     Thursday 6

     A cold morn.  the Pensacola arrived

     Last night with 2 Gun Boats in

     Convoy the mails Came[?] to day

     In the Rhode Island.  my hand is

     Lame yet the R Island sailed

     This PM.

March 3, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:
     March 3-Monday
     A very stormy night last night Rain blow Thunder & Lighting very severe.
     This morning it is very cold so cold we have to put on our overcoats in order to be comfortable. to say nothing about being warm.
     Today I have been down and compared our Muster rolls Gen. Phelps, Col French, Orderly John & myself constitute the 5 witnesses required. find them to compare perfectly and with some few alternations the Gen. pronounced them correct. left one copy with him for the Adjutant General. 2 with Pay-master and kept one for our own use.
     I hear to night that Capts. Read of mounted Rifles, Darwin, of Cavalry & Solon Perkins attemp ted to come down from the upper end of the Island down to our encampment. and have not been heard from since. it is supposed they were driven over upon the rebel shore. if so no doubt they will be prisoners in the hands of the Rebels.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:

     Monday 3

     This is a very cold windy morning

     A regular New England March

     Day.  Stove had a good fire in the

     Tents all day my hand lame yet.

February 28, 1862

Sketch from the 1862 Diary of Richard Elliot
the image and diary can be found online at:
http://libweb.uml.edu/clh/All/el1.pdf

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:
     February 28-Friday
     A very warm I may add a hot day. the sun beat down upon us very hard. And we have had the hardest days work since we came here. some of our men are obliged to leave the ranks from the heat and fatigue.
     Our line was formed at 8 ½ A.M. for review and inspection the 26th Mass, 9th Connecticut, Maine 12th and last but not least 2nd or Eastern Bay State Regiment 1 Quadroon of Mounted Rifles on foot and Essex Battery of Mass. we marched in review at Quick time. and from thence to our Company parade ground were dismissed for about 10 minutes and then called into line line for muster and inspection Gen. Phelps called the names from the muster roll and then went through with the inspection our men were all properly accounted for and all but 2 present in line or Hospital. Captain was in his own Quarters and could not come out his health does not seem to improve any as yet.
     I today have written to Jane and have also sent a letter I wrote some 2 or 3 days since.
     Lieut and some of our men are building our cook house this afternoon.
     We to day hear that the N.H. 8 Regiments are on there way here and that George Ayer is in the Regiment as a 2nd Lieut. another old Phalanx.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
     Friday 28
     Fine day.  got up at 4 Ock and went
     To cleaning guns Brasses equipments
     And brushing up to lookin well
     As possible for general inspection
     By Genl. & Phelps.  took breakfast
     And fell into line it was very
     Hot and we had a hard march of
     Over 5 miles in the heat & sand
     The old Gen inspected all 4 of the
[Mem]
     Regts.  he appears like very nice
     ???.  the lighthouse was lightt
     Up to night for the first time
     Since their land was taken possession
     Of by us.  there was a member of
     Co. C buried yesterday it was a very
     Impressive sight.  there is a number
     Sick yet in the hospital the nicagura
     sails for Key west & N York tomorrow

February 27, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:
     February 27-Wednesday
     Weather this morning very warm and muggy. last night a little after midnight we had the most severe thunder showers I ever saw it seemed like very like the rapid and heavy discharges of a large body of artillery. Rained tremendously it seemed like pouring water upon our tents.
     The Undaunted is to day discharge ing her cargo of horses. which arrived in excellent condition 130 horses she started with and lost only 4 on her voyage and then by disease. The Colonels is in very fine condition. A.T. Murry arrived in the ship.
     But in command on Battalion drill this afternoon. Bill got home from the woods this afternoon and brought the balance of his lumber.
     Eastman seems a little better Capt about the same. I just percieve that I have made a mistake this days memoranda. Should be for Wednesday February 26th instead of today.
     Our new uniform pants have been delivered to day. I have receipted for a pair from the Quartermaster for myself to day they are very pretty.
     No school this evening on account of our muster rolls not being finished. The condemed things are more trouble to us than all the money to be recieved on them will pay for.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
     Thursday, February 27, 1862
     Fine again.  they have got the horses
     All onshore.  they are in good order
     After a 21 days passage.  they are
     Building the wharfs out further
     So that large ships can come up
     And unload.these is a great deal
     Of bussness of all kinds going on
     Here.  tomorrow is general
     Inspection for the whole brigade

February 26, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:
     February 26-Thursday
     Weather this morning very warm & quite pleasant.
     Last night I sat up until ½ past 12 O Clock making out our pay rolls and have not get them finished yet tomorrow is our muster day and they must be finished at all events.
     Today has been a sad day with us in our company for the first death has occurred in our company. Daniel C. Eastman died this morning and at 4 O Clock P.M. we buried him under arms a soldiers life not a soldiers death he died of Typhoid fever and has been a very sick man for some time past. The 26th Regiment Band played us to the burial place. 2 horses and a wagon running gear served as a hearse. An escort of 8 men and Corp. Thos. England escorted the procession to the grave and fired 8 blank Cartridges were fired over his grave our company marched by the Flank as mourners Officers in the rear. Lieut L. & myself were alone from our Company but Lieuts Johnson & Fuller of Comp F. accompanied us in our solem mission.
     The afternoon and evening was devoted by the Company to cleaning up Equipment and getting ready for inspection and muster tomorrow.
     Capt Shipley seems no better & the Doctor does not seem to know what his trouble is any more than a boy three years old would of the same thing.
     This evening we were called into the Colonels tent and some free hints about our tomorrow labors given us for our benefit and the appearance of the Reg’t.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
     Wednesday 26
     Another fine morn after on[e?] of the
     Most terrific thunder storms i ever
     Knew.  my hand lame yet and no drill
     The ship undaunted[?] Capt[?] Elliott
     Arrived with horses i went and see
     Them landed it was done by hoisting
     Them over the side of the ship in
     A sling and swimming them on
     Shore.  The captain of a brig got a
     Duckling[?] this PM.  it is very hot

February 25, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:
     February 25-Tuesday
     Lieut and his gang have gone back into the woods and are to finish up their work to day and I hope we shall have a cook house that will pay for the work.
     The undaunted a transport from Boston arrived here this noon with horses and com-missary stores, she has no mail on board I hear. I have finished my letter and am going to send it by way of New York tomorrow. I hope I shall get something from home soon for I am getting impatient to hear from there.
     Our payrolls are as yet unfinished and I believe we are to have it decided to night how they shall be. Major Watson does not want to pay from enrollment but it is our due and we must have it from some source.
     Our school still defered another night.
     Today for the first time have had command of our Company in Battalion drill, and had fine drill and enjoyed it very much. our drill circuited off from line into column and all the movements embraced between, such as breaking form right and left, to front and rear, right about, and into line wheel.
     Eastman to day seem a little more comfortable. to day some hope of his recovery. Capt still remains about the same. My Rheumatism is better.
     Weather has been fine all day warm but now at evening there is a very dense fog and it is quite cool in fact very chilly.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
     Tuesday 25
     A fine morn.  have got a lame
     Hand and cannot drill 1 of our
     Men shot a beef today in the
     Woods at the head of the island and
     We had soup for dinner went over
     And saw uncle Ben and got some
     Doughnuts a ship & brigg got in to
     Day with provisions for the army
     A poor Devil shot his finger off this
     AM. got our pants & canteens today.

February 24, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:
     February 24-Monday
     Warm and pleasant. Lieut and his party have gone, went of at 7 O Clock.
     A man from Camp has shot of one of his fingers this morn and now while I am writing I can hear him making a terrible noise while it is being am-putated.
     Captain is no better and I am now in command while Bill is away. in the woods cutting timber for a cook house.
     I was up to Gen. Phelps getting some information about our pay rolls. but it seems to be a very complicated affair and I do not know nor can form no idea how it will terminate.
     Eastman is no better do not think he will live but a short time longer. have to furnish watchers for him every night. he has been a very sick man Typhoid Fever. has been sick since we arrived at Fort Monroe first with measles now with this vile disease.
     Lieut Lovrien towed down one raft of logs to night and goes back in morning for more.
     Captain does not seem any better and I have a slight touch of Rheumatisn in my limbs to night but think I shall work it of soon.
     No school this evening but our time is to be devoted to the making out of samples of master rolls for Gen. Phelps inspection.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
     Monday, February 24, 1862
     Another fine morn i went and got
     A few shells on the beach we all enjoy
     Ourselves very well we have 3 drills a
     Day of 1 hour each.  it is a hard place
     To drill in on account of the sand
     We are all quite black i am in tip
     Top spirit but should like to hear
     From home but must have
     Patience.  O Lord[?] yes.

Research: Massachusetts National Guard Museum and Archives

Worcester Armory, 1891

Today I thought I might try to change the pace a little.  This will be my first of several posts devoted to research.  If you are looking for more information (as am I) about the 30th Massachusetts, or a relative who served with them, then this is a post that you might find very helpful.