The Diary of John Wesley Caldwell, 1865: June 2015

Monday, June 19, 1865

Very pleasant. Reached Baltimore at 6 A.M.

Was up at 2 o'clock this morning and after taking a hasty lunch and bidding adieu to what there were left of Co. B, I started with 23 others for the steamboat landing. Left Richmond at 6 o'clock in the Str. Georgianna. Passed Ft. Darling and the sunken reb Ironclads. Reached Ft. Monroe at 2 P.M. took Str. Daniel Webster at 5 P.M. for Baltimore. As usual the soldiers had no accomodations. I slept what I could on the top of a water cask.

Saturday, June 17, 1865

Some cloudy and very warm. We have at last got paid. Mitchell made an attempt to hang himself but was found and cut down in time to save his life. He is deranged partially and thinks some evil is to befall him. We have procured transportation and are to start for Baltimore tomorrow at 6 A.M.I have spent a large part of the day walking over the city. Got a poor dinner for $1.00. I got $188.75 today.

Friday, June 16, 1865

Still cloudy and warm. Another day of disappointment. All hands went downtown today expecting to be paid, but no! We could not. Must wait another day. Went out in the country after noon and had a pleasant visit at Waltons. Got a lot of blackberries and took a bathe [sic] in the pond then came into camp. I am getting almost tired of citizens life if I must spend all my time waiting as I am here in Richmond.

Thursday, June 15, 1865

Warm and cloudy. No rain. All hands went down to pay musters today to get our pay, but to our disappointment the rolls were not in and we could not get paid. So I must spent another day in the old camp. Hiram and I went all round the city today to see what was to be seen of interest. Three companies of the Regiment were paid today and start tomorrow for home. I live in hopes that we may be paid tomorrow. Am very homesick

Wednesday, June 14, 1865

Very hot A.M. P.M. showery Went down to the city today with all the discharged men of Co.B. to see about our pay. Found that we could not be paid until tomorrow so we won't get farther than to Boston Sunday next. Shall try to beat home Thursday the 22nd day of June. Wrote a letter to Mary today.

Tuesday, June 13, 1865

A.M. fair and very warm. P.M. showery Hiram G, Cyrus Cushman and I went to the city today and visited several places of interest. Among them was the Capital. We went up a loft and took a view of the city from the roof. It was a splendid View away in the distance could be seen the bluff (Drury)on which the renowned-»-Ft. Darling. The old flagstaff that so long sustained the traitorous rag of the now defunct Confederacy is rotten and nearly ready to fall. We took a book from the capital as a memento. There was a Review of the Corps tonight in the rain. The boys got back to camp at 9 P.M.

Monday, June 12, 1865

Cloudy and quite warm. This the birthday of my freedom from military restraint. 24 men,I am among them, were mustered out of service and discharged this day. I went out with Hi and picked my hat full of blackberries. Took a bath in mill pond and came in at dark. Don't expect to leave for home for several days for reason of not being able to obtain pay. I go to bed tonight a CITIZEN.

Sunday, June 11, 1865

Morn. cloudy. P.M. fair and warm.The great excitement of today has been the mustering out of the62 men and one year recruits of the 8th Regiment, but our Co. was not mustered by reason of the absence of the Officers. I went out on a pass today but made but little stop as I expect to be discharged. I think tomorrow will be my GREAT DAY. I wrote a letter to Lot Young today. Attended meeting at the chapel tonight and heard an excellent discourse by the Chaplain from the text "Be Ye Also Ready."

Saturday, June 10, 1865

Morn. cloudy. M. fair P.M. a heavy shower. The 24th Corps were to have a Review today and all went down to the city when the shower overtook them and they stood there all through it and then came back to camp without the Review but not without a good drenching. I have been at work on the papers today and have got them all done.Also some other writing on the Co. books.

Friday, June 9, 1865

Cloudy today but no rain. I have been at work today on the discharge papers and have got them pretty well along. Wrote a letter to Villa today. There are no news to record today. The boys are anxious to go home-

Thursday, June 8, 1865

Still hot, dry and sultry. I have been hard at work on the muster out papers to get them fixed up. Also have been fixing up things for my future successor. I wrote a letter to Mary today. Also received one from Villa. Don't look for many more letters in the army. I went out and had a bathe and went and got a lot of cherries.

Wednesday, June 7, 1865

Another very hot sultry day. I learned that we are not to be mustered out now until sometime the first of next week as transportation cannot be obtained. The mustering officer came up today and examined the rolls and discharges and pronounced them wrong so I have to make them all out over again. It is no small job.

Tuesday, June 6, 1865

Some cloudy but quite warmI made monthly returns of camp and Garrison Equipage this morning. Then went to work on Muster Out Rolls for the men who are to be mustered out under the recent order. We learned that we will be mustered out tomorrow. It is the report that President Johnson has been assassinated. I received a letter this morning from Frank and one fromMary Susan. At 10 P.M. I retire for the night.

Monday, June 5, 1865

Still hot and sultryLounged around camp in the A.M. and P.M. went out in the country and filled my haversack with cherries. Had pleasant chat with a goodUnion family in the country. Saw the summer residence of Jeff Davis. At least a place where his family used to reside during the war.

Sunday, June 4, 1865

Very hot and sultry. I was detailed on guard today and after mounting guard and reporting to the guard house we were relieved on account of the extreme heat of the day.I went over to Brigade Head Quarters and did some writing. Also attended meeting at the chapel. Then in the evening wrote along letter to Miss Valentine. Don't hear anything new about going home except the wild talk of the boys in camp. Days pass heavily weigh at present as we are all anxious for the glad time to come when we shall go home and see the dear ones.

Saturday, June 3, 1865

Very warm and sultry. I have done but little writing today In the P.M. went out with some of the boys and took a bathe Also went to a farm house and got a lot of nice cherries to eat. Found the old man a well informed and well disposed man who made no bones of calling old Jeff by his right name,The Old Prince of Traitors and he expressed his belief that he would swing. I wrote a letter to Mary today.

Friday, June 2, 1865

Fair and the warmest day of the season. Have been an work all day on Co. papers. Rec'd a letter from Villa which is the first since I left home in February. The boys seem glad enough after prospect of soon going home. My thoughts are now on home and I cannot think of what to write in a diary. Commenced a letter to Mary today.

Thursday, June 1, 1865

Fair but very warm.I spent the A.M. writing for Lt. Phinney for which he paid me $2.00.P.M. Hiram and I went to the city and spent the day walking about the city. Called on a family and had a southern Miss play the piano and ? talk secish. An order came tonight to muster out such men as their terms would expire on or before October 1st, 1865 which embraces me. We hope to go home soon. I worked for Lt. Phinney till 11:00 and got for my days work $4.00.

More on John Wesley Caldwell

From the book, John Caldwell and Sarah Dillingham Caldwell... by Augustine Caldwell (1904) Maine Historical Society call number 929.2

"In the Civil War, he was one of the Six Sons of Wesley and Margaret Cushman Caldwell, who volunteered for three years ; four of whom became fatal victims. He enlisted Aug. 28, 1862, in the 8th Maine Vols. Inf. Co. B. Served three years ; mustered out at Richmond, Va., June 18, 1865, by General Order of War Dep't. He was in the expedition to Florida, when Jacksonville was taken; also in the Department of the South at Hilton Head and Beaufort, S.C. until April, 1864 ; then to Virginia, and was with the army of the James, at the taking to City Point and Bermuda Hundreds ; at Weir Bottoms Church, Drury's Bluff, Cold Harbor, Chapin's Farm, second battle of Fair Oaks, Spring Hill : all the fighting around Richmond, Petersburg and capture of the same ; also the pursuit and capture of Gen Lee and his army at Appomatox, Va., April, 1865. At the return to Richmond he was mustered out as before stated, and then came the return to the home at Sherman Mills. Since the War he has held the offices of Postmaster, Trial Justice and Justice to the Peace."

"...Asbury Caldwell, the ninth child in the foregoing Family Record, was a brave Volunteer of the Civil War; the blood chills to read the brief story of his burial: He was shot in the battle before Petersburg. His brother, John Wesley Caldwell, was in the fight. He sought and found the body of Asbury. He entered a rebel house at night, and with the light of candles obtained a mantel, and inscribed the name of his soldier brother upon it, and placed it at the head of the hastily made grave. The rebels soon destroyed it. He also engraved the name in a Sycamore, close by. While at work upon the mantel, the bullets of the enemy were freely sprinkled upon the house, and the work had to be completed in the security of the cellar. "