Barnes, John L., 1829-1910 [Diary of John L. Barnes, a POW and sergeant in 149th Pennsylvania Volunteers, "Bucktails"]

In the early part of the diary, Barnes writes of frequent drills, hearing firing, corps reviews, pickets, various correspondence (especially with his wife), and, on 9 March, playing ball. There is battle content on 6-7 February, 5-14 May (possible part of the Wilderness campaign), 20-21 May, and 27-31 May. On 1 June, he writes that he was taken prisoner. In the subsequent entries he was marched through Georgia and spent time at Libby. He occasionally writes a forlorn entry, like on 4 July: "When can I leave this place." The 24 July entry is a poem mentioning President Lincoln: "Weary off wandering round/ and round[.] To Abrahan/ Lincoln I did complain[.]/ He bade me cease to roam/ and had try to release me/and let me go home." Entries for late August and early September have more details, mostly food related. It is also around this period that he starts recording deaths. On 3 October, he notes the arrival of some prisoners from Andersonville. On 21 October, he mentions he expects, like so many others have already, that he will soon die. He frequently discusses hopes for exchange or release. Notes on 28 October that men were offered the chance to enlist in the Confederate army and that not many went. On 8 November, he notes that it is election day and (apparently in the camp) Lincoln beat McClellan by 900 votes. Indicates that he was exchanged on 19 November and the next day he was at Hilton Head, South Carolina. The Memoranda pages in the back have a list of deaths from his squad and ration related details. The account pages, also in the back, are frequently filled in.

when he was taken prisoner 16 June