Union Diary kept by William H. Leach, a Drummer in the 3rd Massachusetts Infantry. Cloth-bound, 175 pages, in pencil with the first 31 pages traced in ink, 6" x 8.25". Leach, presents a comprehensive and engrossing account of his military service from October 1, 1862 through to March 24, 1863, covering his training camp days at Camp Hooker, his experiences at the battles of Kinston and Goldsboro Bridge, through to Co. E's march back to camp at Pollocksville.

In small part: "...[Sunday, December 14]...as we marched through the woods saw many dead bodies both rebel & federal. A meeting house was used for a hospital. We encamped at Kinston that night at 6 o clock. The 10th Com suffered severely in the fight...[Wednesday, December 17]...marched towards Goldsboro met rebels they skedaddled. We pressed forward when within a few miles of said city the batteries commenced shelling the rebels in the woods." A fascinating report of the Union campaign in North Carolina.

This is an unusual diary, Leach uses an individual page for each day. Each entry averages 10 to 15 lines of text and is signed in full, much like a letter. Additional transcriptions are available at HA.com/6149*49078.

Condition: Slight fraying at the edges of the cover, some smudging of the penciling, scattered foxing, slight soiling, mainly at the page edges, creasing at some of the corners, notations on some blank pages.