Diary of a Black Soldier in the 8th U.S. Colored Troops, Company G

William P. Woodlin, a musician in Company G of the 8th Regiment of the United States Colored Troops (8th USCT), compiled a 123-page diary describing his military service from November 1863 to December 1864. The concise entries, usually a few sentences a day, describe a man who is observant, thoughtful, and educated. His near daily reports, told in a stoic and detached voice, provide a window into the life of soldiers on the front line, which usually meant long periods of monotony interspersed with intense periods of activity. Most entries deal with travel, weather, food, and the mail, but as the 8th regiment enters the battles around Petersburg, Virginia, military matters become the central focus of the diary.

Woodlin enrolled in the Army at Syracuse, New York, in August 1863 at the age of 21. The 8th Regiment which he eventually joined was organized at Camp William Penn in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from September to December 1863 and the newness of his experiences there must have been exciting. Woodlin learned to march and drill, was given new uniforms, and was able to indulge his obvious love of music in a fresh setting for a cause that probably had deep personal meaning for him. It is impossible to decipher which instrument he played, but he does say on December 10, 1863, "the Brass Instruments having Come I was taken in for one of them." He later explained he had to give up his rifle as a member of the band, but he still had to face the dangers of combat. Right before leaving camp the green troops had a prescient experience when "a ball whizzed over our heads, which made quite a sensation amongst us." It would be the first of many.

After leaving Philadelphia, Woodlin and his comrades traveled to New York to catch two steamships that would take them to Hilton Head, South Carolina. On December 17th he said his band "Paraded through Cort & Broadway down Canall Strs to the wharf where we shipped at night." After a nearly week long trip down the coast, the 8th USCT arrived at Hilton Head for a two-week deployment and was later sent to the Jacksonville, Florida area, where they served for over six months. During his time in Florida and South Carolina, Woodlin mentions that his regiment is operating with the famous 54th Massachusetts, the first black regiment in the Union Army. In August 1864 the unit was sent to join the Army of the James in Virginia, where they served in the fight around Petersburg when the diary ends on December 1864.

Several times in the diary, Woodlin describes the inequality of pay between black and white soldiers. At the beginning of black enlistment, it was assumed that blacks would be kept out of direct combat, and the men were paid as laborers rather than as soldiers. Black soldiers therefore received $7 per month, plus a $3 clothing allowance, while white soldiers received $13 per month, plus $3.50 for clothes.¹ Woodlin' s regiment was angry when the paymaster arrived on May 6, 1864. He said, "excitement was high all the remainder of the day in reference to the smallness of the pay $7 per month." But Woodlin' s comrades "backed out of their good desires took the paltry sum of $7 per mo." The church-going Woodlin, who sent at least part of his pay back home, then cynically predicts that most of the men will waste their pay on gambling. On May 16th he mentions that newspapers have announced that black soldiers will receive equal pay with whites (the law was passed by Congress on June 15, 1864), but when the 8th USCT draws pay on August 31, they were still receiving $7 per month. Woodlin briefly mentions being paid again on October 19th, but he does not mention the amount. It is unclear why the 8th USCT was still receiving substandard pay.

Despite inferior wages, they were treated as a normal regiment of the line when the 8th USCT was sent north. The siege of Petersburg had been underway for two months when Woodlin arrived in Virginia. After landing on August 12, his diary becomes a litany of skirmishes, marching orders, and reports of dead and wounded comrades. His first night in Virginia was "enlivened by the bombardment of Petersburg." Woodlin' s life takes on a peripatetic quality after he entered this most active of combat zones. A typical example is from August 24:

We rec' d orders to march and marched about 1 ½ miles and halted when the 29 Conn. Vol. 22 nd USCT. 10 th 9 th 8th 7 th & 1 st all took the road to Petersburg . Our Regt was the last to leave hence it had a sorry time getting lost & wandering about in the dark and rain.

The 8th USCT was moved several times throughout the battle allowing Woodlin to witness some of the new approaches to warfare. On September 11 th he witnessed, "three shells thrown from the 200 lb Mortar on our right" and on September 16, "3 of our men were wounded in the trenches by pieces of shell" and on September 18, "our folks are putting up a tremendous sight of guns out there." Woodlin saw the beginning of modern warfare involving trenches and huge artillery barrages that would become so deadly during the First World War. Despite the scars that this type of warfare left on the landscape, Woodlin' s description of the battlefield allows for some beauty:

I went up on the heights in the rear of our Camp & had a splendid view of Petersburg's environs and surrounding country, which included a large portion of the Appomattox River valley the real town itself I could not see much of though I saw 5 steeples of churches or some other Public buildings & a lookout. Our lines are very closely pushed up to the confines of P. there appear to be some very fine buildings there of broke the Heights make it look very picturesque worthy of a painter's pencil.

But his terse descriptions of the dead and wounded belie any image of beauty that was seen from afar. The daily grind of battle was interspersed with good news when Woodlin recorded hearing of the fall of Atlanta on September 2, the capitulation of Mobile on September 9, and Sheridan's victories in the Shenandoah Valley on September 20 and October 20, but these stories of progress in the war did not equate into progress on Woodlin' s own front.

His unit was sent to Deep Bottom, Virginia, where two previous flanking movements by General Winfield Scott Hancock in late July and mid-August 1864 proved unsuccessful,² and they encountered stiff fighting. From September 28-30 the 8th USCT was involved in an operation that captured four lines of trenches and absorbed heavy Confederate counterattacks. In an understated tone, Woodlin said, "our Regt losing 65 men." After this intense firefight, Woodlin' s unit settles down into picket duty and eventually sets up winter quarters when the diary ends. In its final page, Woodlin reveals his hope that the diary would find a place in history:

I draw my passing notes to a close after a years pleasant companionship in jotting down these passing thoughts hoping that this veteran of 5 battles may have an honored place among the scarred relicts of the present war. I will convene it to Northern hands; from I shall expect that it will be kept but a memorial for the coming years; of him who has carried it on the tented field and along 2/3 of the Atlantic Coast 100 miles up the St. John' s River & 90 up the James, one more journey and they travels will be ore.

After the diary ends, the 8th USCT took part in the Appomattox Campaign and was sent to Texas in May 1865. Woodlin served with the unit until he suffered from sunstroke near Brownsville, Texas on July 12, 1865. He was mustered out, moved to Michigan, and eventually received a disability pension due to symptoms from the sunstroke.

¹ James M. McPherson, Ordeal by Fire: The Civil War and Reconstruction (New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1992), 349.

² Mark M. Boatner III, The Civil War Dictionary (New York: Vintage Books, 1988), 229-231.

1863 Journal (Excerpts)

Nov 18.

General review of troops here by Gen. Casey.

26. Thanksgiving day. A present of $100 made to the Reg which was laid out in apples, pies & coffee. Speeches by Gov. Cannon of Del. A gentle[man] from Eng and some others.

27. went over to the Barracks to carry a flag pole, the whole Reg'.

28. A very heavy rain and a cold one followed by a cold snap of 3 days, which is just beginning to ease up this the 2nd day of Dec. tow[a]rd evening.

Dec. 5th. We have had Battalion drill for the past two days under our two Field officers. on the third there was a great row in Camp from there being [2] a little liquor brought in. on the fourth one of our Corps had his stripes ripped off for leaving the ranks without leave.

6th Sunday cold but we had an inspection which was hard to endure. in the afternoon we had meeting where I sung again as usual. with [illegible]

7th We did not drill much to day, but in the evening there was a great row, from a drunken man being struck by an officer with his sword. One of our men knocked the Capt. down; two were sent to the guard house from this Co'

8th We struck tents and moved over to our winter quarters, with our own Reg and one Co' of the New one

9th No drill to day but dress Parade at night, at which the Court Martials were read off [3]

10th No drill, but the Brass Instruments having Come I was taken in for one of them. it is still very cold and our stoves have not come yet, though they are up in the Schoolroom.

11th A very cold day. went over to the schoolroom and practiced on our instruments, in the evening we had an entertainment at the Meeting house of pictures shown through a Lantern, by means of an Oxhydrogen Blow Pipe; a very good selection.

[ January] 9th [1864] The news came that we were to move to South Carolina soon.

10th We were all on inspection nearly all day; the Col said that we were to give up our guns, who belonged to the band.

11th We did not play at all as the members were nearly all gone. Shank among the rest. Whiskey held high sway here all day. At night some 100 new recruits came in, with [7] a semblance of a Band with them; and a poor one at that. the. [sic]

12th We were called up and dressed up in our Zouave Suit today, and played for Dress Parade. We also got our leggins; and gave up our guns, who belong to the band. We did not have very good success.

13th We practiced to day out in the road, and played at dress parade again. Sold vest for 10 cts. To C. Cog and Rece'd it back agan [sic].

14th We went out in the road to practice. twice to day; a ball whizzed over our heads, which made quite a sensation amongst us.

15th We played for guard mounting this morning and stopped. [8]

16th We rec'd orders to pack up this morning at roll call to be ready to move at a moments warning. [F]ell in at 10 A.M. and the start was put off until ½ past 1 P.M . When the whole Reg was formed in line, and march out in review before the 22nd . Band playing Yankee Doddle. Paraded through Front & across Walnut Strs and took the carr[ier]s for New York where we arrived at about 9 A.M..

17th Paraded through Cort & Broadway down Canall Strs to the wharf where we shipped at night on board the City of Bath & the Promet[h]ius.

18th Sailed at 10 & 11 A.M .but the fog prevented our leaving the bay at all.

19th Started again from Sandy Hook in the morning, met rough weather all day. [9]

20th Still rough weather had to go into the hold to sleep, was a little sea sick from fat Bacon.

21st The first pleasant day we had we got our horns out and practiced; also passed Roanoke Island & Hatteras in the evening slept on deck at night.

22nd Nothin strange happened during the day.

23rd Passed Charleston at about 9 A.M., an occasional gun fired; and saw smoke rising from various points.

24th Landed at Hilton at 9 A.M. formed in line and march outside of the Entrenchments and encamped.

[February] 19th We marched this morning about 9 A.M. from Baldwinsville [19] by the way of the R. R. Saw Gen. Semour in the morning before we started. reached a station called Barbers Plantation. after passing two Turpentine distillery's [sic] and halting about ½ hour for dinner, we also passed an earthwork in process of erosion to guard a long tressel-work [sic].

20th We rec'd our rations last evening and got underway about ½ past 6 A.M. at a quick step on the left of the division, passed Sanders Station about 11 A.M., about 12 m: {as near as could be learned} from B's Plantation; we had a very rapid as well as fatiguing march; passed through a'deal turpentine forest. after this halt we were ordered forward, & soon could hear the roar of [20] Canon & the rattle of Musketry ahead of us, we were hurried up to the line of battle at the double quick and our Reg was place [sic] in the center and rec'd the hottest fire that was given; The Col. fell the Major wounded a Capt, & several lieutenants. the band and Drum Core went up to the front ahead of the Cavalry and were exposed to a very hot fire: for a while when we fell back to the R. R. until we were in danger of being taken by a flank movement of the Rebs: we got away however and had another station for a while: when we were again move [sic] a mile farther from the Battle field, which was in the front of Lake City. we built some fires there, & were halted by the Division Dr. for a while after which we moved on untill we reached the station. we left in the morning [illegible] [21] below the scene of action nearly worn out with fatigue & cold. we reached there about 1 A.M. that night and stayed untill daylight.
.
[August] 12th We got Steam up about daylight and got underweigh [sic] before sunrise. the Verona which brought up the 7 MD & Gen been in our wake and then passing us as well as a great No of other boats. The scenery is very good but the Gen' character is Southern quite so. We passed Wilson's landing and one or two other forts & then Harrisons landing We soon reached City Point in 3 or four miles travel and 7 ½ miles above was our landing place Bermuda Hundred the Verona being unloaded. We soon after took up the line [78] of march for Gen. Butler's Hed Qur's about 7 miles distant through Virginia dust, which is terrible indeed. Water was very scarce and the evening was enlivened by the bombardment of Petersburg.

13th The morning was ushered in by the Monitors shelling the woods. things very uncertain about out future destiny. the Guns soon opened on us and some 8 or 9 shells were thrown in on our camp before we could get out of the way our Srgt. Major was wounded and several in the 7 U.S.C.T. We fell back about half a mile and left our dress clothes [79] and knapsacks and moved in. height marching order we started about 11 P.M. and moved across the river on a pontoon bridge and haversacks for the night. Sunrise was ushered in by sharp skirmishing.

14th We fell back and started on a new line. Our Reg was left in the entrenchment. Our Brigade is composed of the 7 U.S.C.T. 8, 9, & 29 Conn Vol. We are not allowed to leave camp, about 5 P.M. We were ordered out about a mile & a half where the 7 & 9 made a charge the 8 being disappointed in finding any [80]thing but riffle pitts [sic]. we lost no men out of our crowd. Reg We fell back about 10 P.M. to the breast works and lay all night without any trouble.

15th Still quiet in our front, but the remainder of the Brigade was moved over to the right on Strawberry plain with Hancock's coups who are to attack the Rebs who are at Malvern Hill today. Our Dr has gone over there to attend to his duties. he is Brigade Surgeon.

16th The fight still continues & the report is that Malvern Hill is taken. We are pitching tents at present. two small tents are up for the Comd Officers. everything moves about as [81] usual in camp. one man was drounded [sic] this morning by the cramp. we are going to have the sick here after today and quite a detachment of other Regts are in here. We moved out at night and forced the skirmish line out a little. had some 8 men wounded. 5 men of us went down the skirmish line under fire. the Regt. moved back about 10 P.M.

17th The 2nd Brigade moved in to our camp comprising the 97th Penn, 76th Penn & another Regt. Just at night we had rations issued and marched under heavy rain shower over the Bontown Bridge & another to the right about 4 miles [82] We halted for the night and where alarmed by heavy picket firing most of the night.

18th We were marched up to the front about a mile to some breast works where we lay all day expecting an attack which came just at sundown on the extreme right. heavy but soon change to the center where it was very fierce. Our Regt stood their ground loosing but 3 men wounded. the 9th dove them back and Charged on them. It then broke out with extreme fierceness on the left like a continued roar of musketry. the Artillery then opened and drove them back [83] the forces then fell back and entrenchments on another line farther back.

13th Things were quiet here near night when there was a fierce fire of pickets and an occasional shell. I went up on the heights in rear of our Camp & had a splendid view of Petersburg's environs [98] and surrounding country, which included a large portion of the Appomattox River valley the real town itself I could not see much of though I saw 5 steeples of churches or some other Public buildings & a lookout. Our lines are very closely pushed up to the confines of P. there appear to be some very fine buildings there of brick the Heights make it look very picturesque worthy of a painter's pencil. Fort Clifton is reported silenced. we could see it in the distance. a relief came for the batteries in front today.

14th A fierce fire of musketry was kept up all night and about 10 A.M. this morning a fierce cannon [99]ading was commenced and kept up for about 2 hours; a No of men being wounded from our Brigade one shell rooted into our trenches being spent {Band} and one struck 2 rods to the right of us against a tree. about as brisk a fire as we have had since we have been here.

15th All quiet today, but our Regt' was Policing their camp & forming a line of Battle & drawing rations Col. Howell died this morning from injuries rec'd from falling or being thrown from his horse. We also had a Reg'tmental inspection under our New Maj. formerly Capt. Wagoner & an aid of Col Shaws. A great many flying reports in camp just now of various kinds. [100] [September]16th We practiced this morning. I got a letter from home last night. There was a little firing at noon and a little more in the afternoon. 3 of our men were wounded in the trenches by pieces of shell. One went over our camp {Band} howling. I went over into the second Divis. the first Brigade has three bands. 169,115 N.Y & 4 N.H. the first & last being consolidated in the next brigade there are only one, the 48th N.Y. formerly of 24 pieces now, of 16 as 7 of the men's times are out the next brigade has one. The 3rd N.Y. 10 piece had a splendid view of Petersburg from another point. crossed the R.R. near where the Rebs had had two Batteries planted of three guns I should judge [101] we are now putting up a 16-gun battery to the right of the R.R. going towards P. with the express purpose of paying the respects of 14 or 15 of them to P. and the remainder to fort Clifton. also a mortar Battery farther down expressly for Clifton. We saw the battery, which throws over to us so spiteful. the new battery, which we have been building over, received her guns again last night

17th All quiet this morning. A few shots fired for trial of guns or some such idea, but no harm done I had some papers come last evening. the 22nd is under marching orders.

18th the 22nd left about 9 A.M. for the purpose of going to Dup Bottom. I wrote to Capt Anderson & to J. I went out on [102] the Picket line last night our folks are putting up a tremendous sight of guns out there, and fixing guards against Cavalry.

19th A man was shott [sic] accidentally this morning in Co. D. of our Regt while in Camp cleaning guns & c. by a member of Co A. The Batteries played briskly this afternoon one shell coming down and striking the Hd. Qe'r Tent after bounding 3 times.

20th A brisk fire kept up during the afternoon by two batteries on our side. Some of them came very close to our camp. Went over my head struck the ground near the Sergt Major's & Capt. Steward but did [103] not injure them. Our Regt was ordered out again on picket on the left. during the night firing was kept up at long intervals & in the morning about Sunrise a Salute was fired from nearly every battery along our line in commemoration of Sheridans victory in the Shenandoah Valley.

21st We did not play this morning as the salute was fired and the shells came straight down to where we generally play one striking the Bombproof & another striking so close that it glanced over. one struck the Serg. Major's tent or bombproof. We practiced this forenoon, two men killed out of the 29th. Reg't Conn. Vol. [104] last night on fatigue Gen Birney rode through camp today with a portion of his staff and a little boy which I suppose was his son. {it was}

22nd The Gen was through Camp again today. another man shot through the head by sharpshooter {G. Miner} Co. G. I rec'd a letter & my folio from my Br. last night. 'A just suits. A No of the Officers rec'd their promotions at night Lieut. Col to Col. 3 Lieuts to Capts. Burrows, Richardson, Lewis, Camp of C. to 1st Lieut. & c.

23rd There was a grand Salute fired this morning from all the Batteries. the Petersburg express starting it [105] in honor of Sheridan's victory in the Shenandoah Valley. Occasional firing all day. Weather cold & damp. nothing stirring.

24th Another salute was fired this morning for some victory I could not tell whose Sheridan's over Early 2d one Raining all day. Rec'd marching orders this afternoon, we prepared at dark and about 11P.M. we were relieved by the 2nd Corps. the 111th, 126th, 37 N.Y. Regts forming the Brigade which relieved us. we marched about two miles back near the City Point R. R. where we formed for Division Organization. The 45th U.S.C.T. joining us on the next day. [106]

25th The Camp was laid out in the Old Style Cos, Strs, Pioneer Corps, Drum & Band on the right of the Regt. The new officers assumed their places today. Lieut. Shefflin as Ajut. Lieut. Richardson, Capt. Co. C, Lewis Co, F. Burrows, Co. B. The 127 will join us soon. The whole sic Regts were ordered out on a Dress Parade in the evening The Band played down the entire line & played the Brigade off the field it was a fine night; there was but one white Regt present that the 37th N.Y. 100 day men, they were formed on the extreme left of the whole Brigade & the 45th U.S.T.C. next then came the 29th Conn., vol.[107] 9th U.S.C.T., 8th & 7th on the extreme right. It was the longest march, which we have had & play at the same time.

26th We were ordered out to Brigade guard Mount this morning the whole Brigade was inspected by Cos, three at a time Everything is being reduced to order now., Sergt. Major delivers all our mail to us now, the Officers have Co drill & rigid drill too, everyone has to come to time now. Brigade Dress Parade again in the evening. The 37th N. J. went home this afternoon & the boys got a lot of rations over there, which they left behind. Our S hat player came back also well again or nearly so, so we are full again as a band. [108]

GLC 06599, Diary of a Black Soldier in the 8th U.S. Colored Troops, Company G, 1863/12-1864/10

For more information or to obtain copies, contact Ana Ramirez-Luhrs at reference@gilderlehrman.com or call (212) 787-6616 ext. 209.

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Ira Berlin, Joseph P. Reidy, and Leslie S. Rowland, Freedom's Soldiers: The Black Military Experience in the Civil War (Cambridge University Press, 1998).

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Mark M. Boatner III, The Civil War Dictionary (New York: Vintage Books, 1988), 229-231.

W. E. B. Du Bois, Black Reconstruction in America 1860-1880 (Russell & Russell, c1935).

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James M. McPherson, Negro's Civil War: How American Blacks Felt and Acted during the War for the Union (Ballantine Books, 1991).

James M. McPherson, Ordeal by Fire: The Civil War and Reconstruction (New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1992), 349.

Noah Andre Trudeau, Like Men of War : Black Troops in the Civil War 1862-1865 (Little, Brown, 1998).