Selected Entries From the Diary of Alfred Noble

Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan

1863

Feb. 13

Battalion Drill this afternoon. Presiding Genius, Lt. Col. Flanigan. About half the regt. got tired of drilling and fell out. Dress parade at 4 1/2 pm as is the custom.

Mar. 5

Today battalion drill in the afternoon by acting Major E. B. Wright. He beats Flanigan all to pieces. In the afternoon company drill and dress parade t 4 1/2 o'clock pm.

Mar. 17

Went target shooting today and fired 5 shots apiece. We find the guns very inaccurate, no two shooting alike, no gun shooting twice alike.

Mar. 19

We went out to shoot at the target today. I hit it once. After we got back to camp we had dress parade & afterwards battalion drill near the campground.

Apr. 10

Went to the landing this afternoon and got back just before drill. About 1/3 of the battalion were absent without leave and the Col. would not drill the rest. At dress parade we have stringent orders on the matter.

Apr. 29

At 11 o'clock last night we were called up and started for the river going slowly by jerks. At daylight we double quicked & deployed along the river bank & fired at the rebs on the opposite side. The 24th and the 6th Wis crossed the river in boats and drove the rebs out of the rifle pits on the hill.

Apr. 30

This morning we changed our location from the ditch where we had been lying the day before & to a little farther to the left and commenced throwing up a stone wall and earthworks. At 3 o'clock am May 1st we laid down to sleep.

May 29

Gov. Blair left this morning early. We were paid off this afternoon. The Capt. treated us to cigars and cider & we tried to get a treat out of Safford but we found it a thing that he couldn't see.

Jun. 7

Elder Way preached an excellent sermon today to a large number from the 24th, 2nd, and 6th. In the evening there was a prayer meeting also largely attended. Inspection in the forenoon.

Jun. 10

Drill in the forenoon by Lt. Col. Flanigan. In the afternoon, after dress parade, Col. Morrow drilled the regiment making fewer blunders than his second in com.

Jun. 28

In the afternoon we marched from Middletown to Frederick about 8 miles. We did not rally on the fences so wood was bought for us by Gen. Wadsworth.

Jun. 29

A long and tiresome march in the mud from Frederick to Emmitsburg 25 miles. We are now 1 mile from the Pa. line.

Jun. 30

We marched about halfway to Gettysburg and drew up in line of battle, but we were mustered for pay. I am on Brig. rear guard.

Jul. 1

We marched this morning and found the rebs near Gettysburg. After a desperate engagement we were overpowered with superior numbers and had to fall back behind the town. I was in the rear guard & went into battle with the 6th.

Jul. 2

Today we threw up a slight breastwork & remained here today. Our regt. numbers 100 men. Not a field officer left. In the afternoon the enemy tried to break our left & and failing in this, attacked the right, but failed also in that.

Jul 3

The enemy renewed the attack on our right today, but was driven back with awful slaughter. Very heavy cannonading in the afternoon.

Jul. 4

Everything is quiet today the rebels left the town in a hurry & forgot to parole the Col. so he will come back to us. No news yet from Jonnie.

Jul. 5

Heil came in this morning, wounded, and says that Johnnie is killed. After noon we moved to the left about a mile. Pomeroy came in and says that he saw Johnny fall. Alfred was killed near the 2nd.

July 17

Laying around all day today. Eating & sleeping. Pinkerton and I ate a right smart lot of pancakes, which was the principal duty of the day. This afternoon the 5th Corps broke camp & crossed the River.

Aug. 1

We started from the junction at 5 am & went a little to the right of Rappahannock Station near the river. The 167th were not going to start this morning, but by means of the 6th, 2nd & 7th Cutler finally persuaded them to come.

Aug. 5

The Army of the Potomac was reinforced today by the departure of the 167th for home. These valiant fellows will now beat their swords into plowshares & resume the peaceful occupations for which their hearts have yearned so long.

Aug. 6

I had a swim in the muddy Rappahannock this afternoon, the only very important event that has happened.

Aug. 18

We were relieved this morning & returned to camp. Indiana sutler came up this afternoon but during dress parade & inspection we lost the chance to buy.

Sept. 6

We are relieved this morning by the 7th Wis. We hear that our camp has been pronounced the d_d_t nastiest camp in the Army of the Potomac.

Sep. 17

The banner presentation came off at 5 o'clock pm. After the presentation the officers had a big drunk. Proposed toasts, drinking health & feeling good generally. Tomorrow the privates are to have theirs.

Sep. 18

Commenced raining in the night, continued until noon. At 9 am the Col. came around and told those who wanted something to go over to the grove where they had a grand brigade drunk.

1865

May 6th

His will to attend President Lincoln's Funeral. We had a very rigid inspection Wednesday afternoon and after that a long afternoon drill. The camp had been lost to sight in the mud until the day before when a few minutes of sunshine made it dry again.

Thursday morning (4th) we were called up at 5 o'clock and at 6:30 fell in and drilled about an marching at slow step and arms reversed. at 7:30 a special train came down for the regiment, On arriving in the city we stacked arms on the north side of capitol square. Soon after we marched through the building and saw the body of the late President.

At 11:30 the funeral procession moved to the Oak Ridge Cemetery 2 1/2 miles north of the City. The marching being at slow time, company front, reversed arms. The day was very warm and it was rather hard work. At the cemetery, we stacked arms & such as wished went over beyond the vault to hear the oration of the Bishop Simpson.

About 3 o'clock p.m. we started on the return to the City. Waited here an hour and left for Camp Butler by another special train arriving in camp about 5 o'clock. Sometime during the night we had a heavy shower rain & hail. Yesterday (5th) there was no drill and last night there was still more rain.

Today is cloudy but not so far rainy.