Goddard, Dighton, 1822-1910 [Diary of Dighton Goddard]
Order a pdf of this item here.
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03608.01 Author/Creator: Goddard, Dighton, 1822-1910 Place Written: Various Places Type: Diary Date: 29 April 1863-10 December 1863 Pagination: 1 v. : 47 p. : Height: 12.3 cm, Width: 8 cm Order a Copy
Diary of a soldier in the 34th Massachusetts Volunteers. Written in pencil in a small leather bound planner. Most entries detail the weather, the regiment's movements through Virginia, foraging, rations, and daily occurrences. Entry on 3 May mentions that the cavalry captured 12 Confederates and surrounded and fired at a major who had escaped into the woods. Entries for 14 and 15 May describe an engagement near New Market, Virginia where his regiment suffered losses because they were outnumbered. Reports marching to Harrisburg on 2 June, then on to Port Republic where he describe a skirmish in which he was wounded. Indicates that the troops marched on but the wounded stayed behind in the hospital. They were later moved to camp. On 15 June he writes from Washington, D.C. and reports that they marched through the Alleghany Mountains and on to Cheat Mountain. Comments on the rough roads and relays that the wounded went to the hospital at Beverly, West Virginia. On 16-18 June, he mentions that his arm is swollen but getting better. Entries in June and July report on happenings at the hospital, wounded brought in, discharged patients, and deaths. On 27 June he mentions that a train of 150 prisoners and several hundred negroes came in from Staunton, Virginia. Notes going to Clarksburg, Virginia on 9 July. On 21-22 July reports having a piece of a bullet removed from his arm. In the entry for 26 July he states that his regiment got into a skirmish near Bunker's Hill and that Martinsburg, West Virginia has fallen into Confederate hands. He records his journey home on furlough on 13-18 August. Many blank pages follow. His entry on 18 October written from Harper's Ferry, Virginia reports on a fight near Charlestown, West Virginia with Confederate General John D. Imboden's cavalry and artillery. Some cash accounts are recorded near the back of diary. Intermittent blank pages. Loose slip of paper inserted in back of diary notes the doctors in charge at Clarksburg and Beverly hospitals.
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.