[I] nursed the wounded all night...after the excitement...is over I began to realize how terrible the fight has been. Upward of twenty of my brave boys are killed and wounded my escape was very narrow.

Autograph diary of Captain Theodore R. Davis, Co. B, 15th Connecticut Infantry. [North Carolina], 7-26 March [1865]. 48mo, 2 7/8 x 4 1/4 in. Original leatherette with tabbed envelope closure. Approx. 35 pages with writing. Ownership inscription with regimental designation to front free endpaper. The quote: "Oh what a tangled web we weave..."

An excellent diary kept by Captain Theodore R. Davis during the Battle of Wyse Fork (Battle of Kinston), his capture, march to Richmond, and subsequent imprisonment at Libby Prison. Notably, Captain Davis writes at length nearly every day from the start of battle through his imprisonment, providing a detailed narrative of his late war experience.

Early pages in the diary dated August 6 and 13th (year not indicated, possibly corresponding to August 1862, when the regiment was organized) consist of a listing of bedding and clothing supplies. Davis initiates his diary in earnest on 7 March [1865], on the first day of the Battle of Wyse Fork. Davis notes that after they took position they were "shelled for two hours and skirmishing kept up all night." He continues on the 8th: "Fight commenced at noon our regiment was attacked on flank and rear by Hokes entire division and entirely cut off they fought bravely for a while losing above two hundred in killed and wounded before they were captured." On the 9th, he recounts vividly his battle experience, "Nursed the wounded all night after the excitement is over I began to realize how terrible the fight has been. Upward of twenty of my brave boys are killed and wounded my escape was very narrow. A minnie (God bless the name ...so nearly fatal to my life it is wholly essential to my happiness, Minnie my wife) ball passed through my hat stunning me for a moment but not injuring me in the least. I could not but think the God of battles had heard and answered my prayer though in the excitement of the fight I knew no fear and thought only of the struggle for the night. As 10 am started with our wounded for Goldsborough Bishop bearing his wound bravely though almost knowing he must die arriving at Goldsborough were paroled again to to care for the wounded, took Major and Bishop to the Hospital remaining with them through the night."

A small note on one pages notes that, "Capt. Bassett killed the 8th his body entirely striped by the rebels." This refers to Captain Julius Bassett of Meridian, Connecticut. Originally serving for a 3 month enlistment with the 3rd Connecticut, he re-enlisted and was commissioned as captain of Company A in the 15th Connecticut Infantry. He was indeed killed in action on 8 March 1865 at Kinston, North Carolina.

From the 10th, the 15th Connecticut began marching to Richmond, Virginia, passing through Weldon, where Davis notes that "there are many Union families in this place,” before they arrived in the middle of the night on March 18th: "entered the Prison Walls of Libby at 2.20 AM names taken and clothing searched delivered up $22.00 greenbacks, promised to be returned..." Davis continues his daily narrative, noting the news they receive about the Union forces, illness, occasional highlights ("Ham cakes and molasses and coffee for breakfast high living for 'Libby'"), fire alarms, and the arrival of new prisoners: "About dark last night a Fresh Fish from Sherman's Army came in we formed line at the door and passed him through frightening him half out of his wits with yells and cries, but such is the welcome of every new comer, afterward we gave him a good supper and listen to his tale of capture as a 'bummer'". Davis's entries end on March 26th when he was released from Libby, "Left Richmond at 1/2 past seven on ...from there by ambulance to Aiken Landing there by steamer NY & Annapolis." The diary includes a "List of Officers Captured 15th C.V." midway through the daily diary entries. The book also concludes with 6 pages recorded in ink and headed "List of company with which left New Berne March 2nd and the killed wounded and missing."

Captain Davis enlisted with the 15th Connecticut Infantry when the regiment was organized at New Haven in August 1862. They were deployed in the defense of Washington D.C. and moved into Virginia in late 1862, participating in the Battle of Fredericksburg, their most significant engagement. The next two years saw the regiment moving throughout Virginia and ultimately to New Berne, North Carolina and the Department of North Carolina. The Battle of Wyse Forks, described in such detail here, was the last engagement the regiment saw. Davis and others were paroled before returning to provost duty at Kinston and New Berne before discharge in July.

Condition: scuffing to binding, some pages removed.

[Civil War, Union, Confederate, Prisoner of War, POW, Libby Prison, Andersonville, Diaries, Manuscripts, Letters, Ephemera, Narratives]