A Private of Co. "B"  12th Regiment - Wisconsin Volunteers

Elias Asa enlisted in  the Union Army in Ironton/Reedsburg, Sauk Co.,
Wisconsin on September 16, 1861.  This diary covers only one year of the
time he served.

Please note:  In transcribing this diary, I have taken care to duplicate
as correctly as possible, the original spelling, punctation and use of
capital letters.  He did not write in his diary every day.
 

JANUARY 1865

1 - Friday       It is very cold here today the citizens say that it has
not ben as cold before in 34 years.

2 - Saturday   Black Licks
                        Franklin Co
                        Ohio

14 - Thursday  we march cros the river and left no corn barley and no
corn to army  rested at dark
                           Pocotaligo,  South Carolina

31 - Tuesday - we are laying in camp today about 25 miles from Beaufort
[South Carolina]

FEBRUARY 1865

1 - Wednesday   we start this morning at eight oclock we marched  16 miles but have not ben stoped yet the rebs we are camped in the woods about 37 miles

2 - Thursday    we march 12 miles and stood fricguit [frigid? or
picket?] all night

3 - Friday   we started this morning at 7 oclock and marched 7 miles and then the rebs checked our advance for a short time but they have fled

4 - Saturday   we layed in camp

 9 - Thursday   we marched 8 miles and camped for the night it snowed today

10 - Friday   we marched 7 miles we crost the river Adisto and camped [Adisto River in South Carolina]

11 - Saturday   we marched 13 miles and had a skirmish with the rebs

12 - Sunday    we waided  a swamp today and flanked orangeburg
[Orangeburg, South Carolina] and drove the rebs

13 - Monday   we marched 13 miles and destroyed the Charleston and Columbia railroad

14 - Tuesday   we burnt railroad till noon and then marched 18 miles and camped for  the  night

15 - Wednesday   we marched 15 miles and crost the line of the fifteenth R. C. [or A. C.]  march

16 - Thursday   we marched 8 miles to the Santee river on the left of Columbia thare was heavy cannon scuding in front of town all day [South Carolina]

17 - Friday    we took posession of Columbia the capital of the state
[South Carolina]

*******February  16-17 in Columbia*******

18 - Saturday   we marched 12 mi today and riped up the South Carolina RR

19 - Sunday   we left our camp and pulled out in light marching order we destroyed rail rod all day

20 - Monday   we marched 12 miles and camped in the woods

21 - Tuesday   we pulled up our camp this morning and marched a 8 oclock and distroyed 3 miles of railroad and marched 16 miles

22 - Wednesday   we marched 15 miles and past through swiss Krisough [Spelling ?]

23 - Thursday   we marched 7 miles and laid on the bank of the Materee river in the mud and rain

24 - Friday   we crost the river this morning and marched 15 miles we passed through small town called Libery Hill [South Carolina]

25 - Saturday   we marched 25 miles through the mud knee deep

26 - Sunday   we marched 12 miles

27 - Monday   we marched 14 miles and camped about 9 oclock

28 - Tuesday   we marched 16 miles and

29 - Wednesday    This boxes  Smith  [?]

MARCH 1865

7 - Monday   15 corn basket     1234567890

19 - Saturday   Jame Macky      25.00
                          R. Klett           10.00
                          Wm Field         25.00
                          Stow                10.00
                          Fritz                  5.00

APRIL 1865

16 - Sunday   stayed over in camp all day.  News of the surrender of the "Johnnies" rained some. considerable excitement in camp

17 - Monday   Inspector inspected  in morning.  In afternoon went to town.  was diaappinted in looks of the town.  Heard of the death of President Lincoln

18 - Tuesday   In camp all day  Received a mail  A detail to clean up a camp ground

19 - Wednesday   Moved camp about 1 mile nearer to town have a splendid camp found  bords and put up a good "she bang"

20 - Thursday   In camp all day   Wrote letters & received a small mail

21 - Friday   In camp all day  Getting very tired of camp life want to move on

22 - Saturday   in camp all day dull and dreary in camp  Just at night received a small mail

23 - Sunday    Div. Reviewed by Legget as a preparatier to gen. review on the morrow  Quite warm    all quiet

24 - Monday   Army of Tenn. Reviewed by Gen's Grant, Sherman, Meade, a very agreeable review.  In afternoon over to 1st Div saw
G.D.S.  bry [?]  Orders to move in morning

25 - Tuesday   Ready to move at 6 1/2 o'clock but did not move until  7 1/2 o'cl.   marched along the line of   R. R.  marched about eight miles and camped  in the woods.

26 - Wednesday   Stayed over all day   Johnnies having signified
willingness to come to terms just at night heard they had
surrendered  Bully.  Rec a small mail  letters and c from Chet.

27 - Thursday   Took up line of march at 7 o'cl.  Taking back track
reached old camp about noon, a short camp jargin  quite warm  8
mile today

28 - Friday   in camp all day, but making preparations to march on the morrow, Reports say we go to Richmond, Vir.  Rec mail Wrote to  C. & R.

29 - Saturday   Took up line of march at 7 1/2 o'cl, marched slow all the forenoon, but pulled out in the afternoon, crossed Wense [?] R. camping 2 miles from it.  13 mi

30 - Sunday   Stayed over all day.  Last night's rain made it very
pleasant, yet its quite warm

MAY 1865

1 - Monday   On the way at 6 1/2 o'cl  Passed through the town of
Forestville. & by great Ganet [?] College.  saw some fine county.
Crossed Tark [?]  20 miles to camp in the woods.

2 - Tuesday   Took up line of march at 6 o'cl .  Passed through some fine country.  Citizenry mostly at home.  made a rapid march going 22 mi camped at Ridgeway

3 - Wednesday    on the road  at 6 o'cl.  passed through Melway [?].
Good roads and good country.  On rear guard today  marched
17 mi  camped in the woods.

4 - Thursday     Seayed [stayed ] in camp all day witing fo the A.C.
across the river  The rest was very acceptable

5 - Friday   On the way before day - light  Crossed the Roanoke &
Mineron [Meherrin] Rivers.  Found the country showed the effects of the war.  25 mi to camp in a field.

*****they are now in Virginia*****

6 - Saturday   Did not start until rather late, 4 Div. in event    Very
warm,  many of the boys failed,  Cross the Nottoway R.  23 mi to camp just at dark.  Many of the Regt behind

7 - Sunday   Took up line of march at 5 o'cl.  Passed over some noted ground.  Passed Dinwittie C. H. & Tery Oak [Terry Oaks].  Saw some of the works about Petersburg.  Camped 5 mi from  P     21 mi

8 - Monday   Took up march at 4 1/2 o'cl    Pasd through the defenses and  City of Petersburg.  Crosing the Appomattox R.  Appears to be a good deal of busines done in the City.  Camped 5 mi from P. Univi  today

9 - Tuesday   Took up line of march about daylight last nights rain
makes good roads.  Saw where had been heavy fighting in '64.  Passed 4 lines of works guarding Richmond.  Camp 9 mi from R.  10 mi today.  Went to city

10 - Thursday   Stayed in camp all day, rainy.  15th and 17th  A C's
came near having a  free raw in town, large patrols out of  Ind  Div.
in town.

12 - Friday   Took up line of march at 5 o'cl A.M..  Passed through town with Grante [?] step and arms at will.  Other troops in way so move very slow   Camped 7 mi from town 10 mi. today

13 - Saturday    Ready to move at 4  o'cl  and soon after on the road. Crossed the Chickihoming [Chichahoming] R.  and camped
on the banks of the Pamunkey R. and two mi from  Hanover, C. H.    13 mi.

14 - Sunday   Called up at 2 o'cl to get ready to move but bridge broke and did not move until 8  o'cl   Crossed Pamunkey R. found poor roads.  Camped on  Pole Cat Creek 15 miles today.

15 - Monday    Did not get started until 7 o'cl A.M.   Div. in centre
Crossed Tj River.  Quite hot marching but made about 17 mi and in camp at 4 o'cl P.M.

16 - Tuesday   Left camp om Po River at  7 o'cl A.M.  Div. in  cannot read this part]  Very hot Passed through the [cannot read]  and over the battleground of Fredricksburg.  Crossed the Rapidan & Rappahahannock   Rs.  Camped 5 mi from latter.

17 - Wednesday   Took up line of march at 4 0'cl A.M.  but did not get along very fast until the middle of the day.  Extreme heat, many gave out.  In camp at 4 o'cl P.M.      12 mi

18 - Thursday   Left camp at 5 o'cl A. M.  Marched slow, passed over some very high country.  Saw where the camps of Armies rested at Battle of Bulls Run. Camped at 3 o'cl P.M. on Occoquan R.   16 mi today.

19 - Friday   On the road at 4 o'cl A.M.  Pulled out very rapidly.  Cool marching and made good time, reaching  camp 3 mi from Alexandria at
2 o'cl  P.M.

20 - Saturday    In camp all day.  Todays rest is very acceptable.  Rec Mail

***Pages are missing for May 21 through May 26.***
Marched in  the Grand Review in Washington D.C. om May 24, 1865

27 - Saturday    Farchiles  [?]

28 - Sunday    Silusby [?]   Gillespi  [?]

29 - Monday   Republican Majority     Vote cast   1.45       39
 
 

*****June 1865      Moved to Louisville, Kentucky

*****July 16, 1865   Elias mustered-out near Louisville, Kentucky

*****He was given an honorable discharge  at Madison, Wisconsin

Last entry ---"Freedom, La Salle Co. Ill. April 24th / 65"  Really
doesn't make any sense -- except to him

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