Gottshall, Samuel G. (1841-1902) [Diary of Samuel G. Gottshall]

Leather bound autograph manuscript signed. Describes activity at Fort Donelson (the Battle of Fort Donelson was fought from 11 February to 16 February 1862), Yorktown (Siege of Yorktown took place from 5 April to 4 May 1862, as part of the Peninsula Campaign), the Peninsula Campaign withdrawal (March through July 1862), Second Bull Run (28-30 August 1862), and South Mountain (Battle of South Mountain was fought on 14 September 1862), and being wounded by a cannonball. This cannonball is found in GLC04564.02. Writes of his recuperation in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he spent the rest of the year in the hospital. During the Penisula Campaign, Gottshall provides a day by day account of the Union withdrawal from the Peninsula. Also writes of his division's review by President Abraham Lincoln on two different occasions.

In February, he reports on the capture of Fort Donelson. Writes,
[8 February] "...received intelligence of the surrender ford henry on the tennessee river to the federal naval force under Comander A H foote 2 revels generals, Colonol 2 Captains and [1] hundred privates taken prisoners [sic]."
[12 February] "...[intellence] that General hallock had surrender ford donalson in tennessee dare is set to be 8 thousand rebels in the ford Burnsides fleat captured Elicabethtown and for donalson 1000 prisoners [sic]."
[15 February] "officicial from the burnsides exbodidion on the [R] roanoke island taken on which the rebels hat well fordfite took 3000 priconers destroyed and captured all dare navy except .2. gun boats...]
[16 February] "donelson in Tennessee has been taken by our men with fifteen thousand prisoners among then two generals hevy lost on both sides."
[17 February] "Rect intelligence that general Sander Commander at Comperlant M.d had shelled the rebel camp at at [sic] bloomdy gap surpricing and [illegible] rebel and captured 17 Commissoned officers and 45 priconers and the ohio railroad [sic]."
[18 February] "too [struck: rebles] rebel generals taken priconers at fort [donalsal] Johnston and and buckner we captured 2 thousend horses 20 thousend stand of arms our loss a l[illegible] 400 killed and 800 wounted."

On 7 April, he notes "Pittsburg landing fell in the hands of the union," and on 9 April he states "yorktown attacted (sic) by major general mcClelen…"

On 23 May, writes "McCalls division reviewed by president lincoln ..."

Gottshall writes that on 14 June his regiment was sent to the Peninsula, and landed on the Pamunkey River at the White House. Through the following weeks, they were under continued shelling from the Rebels and heard cannonading in the direction of Richmond, Virginia. Then on 28 June, he became actively involved in the fight, and was "called out and formed a line of battle... was drove back to the white house landing. At 3 p.m. we embarked and sailed for fortress Monroe." Days later [2 June], he comments "our troops in front of richmond are all Falling back to the landing at the James River." They were attacked on 3 July, but their "badery opend [sic] on them drove them back." On 8 July, writes that his regiment was reviewed by "the U.S President Abroham [sic] lincoln."

On 13 August details the arrival in camp and the exchange of prisoners' Generals John Reynolds and George McCall, they had both been captured by Confederate troops during the Peninsula Campaign.

On 29 August writes about the Second Battle of Bull Run, "I was ingaged all day 20 killed and wounted fighting ceased at .2. o. clock at knight [sic]." On the following day, he "went in on the battle field at .6. A.m. and came out .7. P.m. with a consiterable loss the fight ceased at o1 .p.m." On 1 September, describes his melancholy job of appearing "on the battle field under the flag of truth to bring off our wounted men…"

In mid-September [17 September] during the Battle of Antietam writes, "the fight was renewed at an early hour this morning kept up all day all our men ingaged along the whole line fighting seased at 9 P.m. with a heavy loss." His arm wound acted up, and was serious enough for the doctor to require that he be sent to Harrisburg to recuperate where he spent the rest of the year in and out of the hospital.