Nov. 30th, ’62.
Still in camp.
In compliance with
the spirit and letter
of the recent proc-
lamation of the
President, the labor
of to-day has been
“reduced to the mea-
sure of strict ne-
cessity.”
Inspection of arms, &
preaching this fore-
noon. Raining some
this P.M.
Dress parade at 4
P.M.
[88]
Dec. 1st., ’62.
A most violent
thunder storm last
night; the rain fell in
torrents.
Cloudy this morn-
ing, but not rain-
ing. Quite cool.
This afternoon we
were reviewed, pre-
paratory, it is said,
to a general review
by General Rosecrans.
Col. Wagoner’s quar-
ters are now on
the very same ground
that the[y] were last
winter!
[89]
Cannonading heard
this P.M. of[f] to the
W.S.W., in the direc-
tion of McCook’s di-
vision.
Dec. 2d, ’62.
Still in camp; some-
what cloudy, but the
sun is shining.
Nothing unusual occurred.
Dec. 3d, ’62.
Still in camp; clear
& pleasant. Ordered to
be ready by 8 ½ A.M.
to-morrow, with
[90]
knapsacks neatly
packed and on, for
general review by
Gen’l. Rosecrans.
Col Lane returned
to reg’t. today, from
Hospital at Louisville,
where he has been
near a month.
Dec. 4th,’62.
Clear but cool to-
day.
At 9 A.M. form-
ed the line for
review by Gen’l
[91]
Rosecrans; moved
out to the W. of the
Camp about a mile;
review continued
until 3 P.M.
Our whole division
was reviewed.
It was the grand-
est military dis-
play I ever witnessed.
Genl’ Rosecrans a [Hunter describes General William Starke Rosecrans.]
man of medium
size, dark hair, beard
& mustache. Apparently,
of a pleasant, affable
disposition.
[92]
Dec. 5th, ’62.
Snowed nearly
all forenoon.
Ordered to be rea-
dy 8.A.M. to-mor-
row to go with
wagon train for
forage.
Clear but cool
to-night.
Dec. 6th, ’62.
Clear & quite cold
this morning.
Up & eat breakfast
before daylight.
Ground covered with
snow.
[93]
Marched at 8 A.M.,
8 or 10 miles from
camp, in direction of
Franklin; got into
a skirmish, – near-
ly surrounded, & com-
pelled to return
without filling
all our wagons, –
one man of Co. I
killed, & one of Co.
C. wounded slight-
ly. Very hard trav-
elling on account
of the snow melt-
ing.
[94]
Dec. 7th, ’62.
Clear & cool to-
day.
After night, order-
ed to prepare
three days ra-
tions, & have
them ready to put
in haversacks by
reveille to-mor-
row morning.
Dec. 8th, ’62.
Clear & cold.
Rations in haversacks.
To go on picket at
2 ½ P.M.
[95]
Dec. 9th, ’62.
Nothing unusual oc-
curred along our
part of the lines
last night, or this
A.M. Clear & warm.
Van Cleve, on the [Brig. Gen. Horatio Phillips Van Cleve attacked.]
left, moved out to
forage & was at-
tacked; McCook, on [General McCook attacked.]
the right, was at-
tacked in his
camp. Ordered to
be ready to “fall
in” at any moment;
reveille at 4, & rea-
[96]
dy to move at 6
A.M. to-morrow
morning, on a for-
aging expedition.
Dec. 10th, ’62.
Clear & cold.
Did not move,
as ordered.
reported that 3
reg’ts. of our men
taken prisoners
at Hartsville, Tenn.
Dec. 11th, ’62.
At 5 A.M. this
morning ordered to
[97]
march at 6 ½;
aborted at that
time, marched over
to the Murfreesboro
pike, & out it a-
bout 8 or 9 miles,
skirmishing with
the enemy near 3
hours; started
back about 5 P.M.
& arrived in Camp
at 8 ½.
Reported that we
fired into our
men taken at Harts-
ville, & returning
from Murfreesville
where they were pa-
roled.
[98]
We were said to be
within three miles of
Lavergne; at which place
it’s reported, the rebels
were “packed up & ready
to start.”
Dec. 12th, ’62.
Clear & warm to
day. Nothing un-
usual occurred to-
day. Have had a
standing order for
3 or 4 days, to have,
constantly, three days
rations in haversacks.
My right knee very
[99]
much swollen & quite
painful from the ef-
fects of a fall while
I had my company
out as skirmishers
in the affair of yes-
terday.
Dec. 13th, ’62.
Clear & quite warm
to-day.
My knee more
painful than it
was yesterday.
Ordered to be ready
to-march at 7 A.M.
to-morrow.
[100]
Dec. 14th, ’62.
Quite pleasant this
morning.
My knee no better:
Owing to my lame-
ness, I was detail-
ed to take charge
of the Camp in
the absence of the
reg’t.
The reg’t., with
others, as an es-
cort for a for-
age train, marched
across to the N. &
Lebanon pike, & out
[101]
W about 6 miles, &
returned about 5
P.M. with the wagons
well loaded.
Appearance of
rain this evening.
Dec. 15th, ’62.
Called into line
of battle at 5 A.
M. this morning,
& stood until day-
light.
Sprinkled rain,
occasionally, last
night, as also
this morning.
[102]
Commenced raining
violently about M.[meridian or midday], &
has rained constant-
ly since; & very wet
& disagreeable night
for soldiers.
My tent leaks.
Rain ceased about
9 ½ P.M.
Dec. 16th, ’62.
Quite cool this
morning, with
scattering clouds.
Nothing unusual
occurred to-day.
My knee no better.
[103]
Dec. 17th, ’62.
Clear with a cold
wind.
Brigade drill
at 1 P.M.
My knee not
so much swollen
but still painful.
Ordered to be ready
to march at ¼ before
7 A.M. to-morrow
morning, with three
days rations in havre-
sacks.
Dec. 18th, ’62.
Clear but cold.
[104]
Our reg’t., with a
number of others,
started at about 7
A.M. up the R. R. on
a foraging expedi-
tion.
Knee very little bet-
ter.
The reg’t. went about
11 ms. toward Lebanon,
& returned about 8 P.M.,
with full wagons.
Dec. 19th, ’62.
Weather fair & warm.
Knee better. Brigade
drill this P.M.
[105]
Dec. 20th, ’62.
Fair & warm.
Brigade drill this
P.M. Quite a com-
motion caused by
heavy cannonading
in front, about 7 P.M.;
reg’t. ordered into
line of battle, but
soon sent to quarters.
Said to be a salute in
honor Gen’l. Smith’s
marriage; afterward
heard that it was
the enemy firing on
Van Cleves pickets, – [Brig. General Horatio Phillips Van Cleve]
[106]
& still again, that it
was one of our for-
aging expeditions
defending themselves
from an attack of reb-
el cavalry.
Dec. 21st, ’62. [The date is written in the margin.]
Today rode over
to the 51st Ohio, & saw Sam. Worthing-
ton; his father re-signed last Sept.,
at Bowling Green,
Ky. Ordered to have 3-
day’s rations cooked & in
haversacks, & be ready to
march at a moments
notice.
[107]
Dec. 22nd, ’62.
Clear & warm.
Taylor, who was last 2nd Lt. George K. Taylor, Co. B.
night notified of the
acceptance of his re-
signation, started,
this morning, home.
Dec. 23d, ’62.
Clear & warm.
Ordered to have 3
days rations in havre-
sacks, knapsacks pack-
ed & tents struck, &
ready to march at
daylight to-morrow.
[108]
Dec. 24th, ’62.
Already to march
at day light; rain-
ing a little.
About 7 A.M. a
fierce shower came
on. With our wag-
ons all loaded
ready to start, we
formed the line, &
stacked arms.
At 4 P.M. we rec’d.
an order to pitch
tents! Knee better,
but not yet able
to-march. Ordered
to be ready to march
at day light to-morrow
morning.
[109]
Dec. 25th, ’62.
Reg’t. formed at day-
light, & returned to qrs.
in about ½ hour.
My Co. & Co. A, order-
ed to report at div.
Hd. Qrs.
As there are no pro-
visions at brig. Q.
M.’s [Quartermaster’s], my to-day promised
to be a “genuine soldier’s
Christmas”: hard crack-
ers & Hitch!!
Thank God, the hard-
ships & privations
of the present, will
make us appreciate the
blessings of the past,
& render us more thank-
[110]
ful for any we may
receive in the future.
Co. on a foraging ex-
pedition out the Frank-
lin pike, & ret’d. about
7 ½ P.M., not able to
go along on accou[n]t
of lameness.
Dec. 26th, ’62.
Struck tents & march-
ed about 8 A.M. to-
day, – had to ride in
ambulance; moved
out the Murfreesboro
pike; rained nearly
all A.M. Rosecrans
passed on ahead of
us about 2 P.M.
[111]
Heavy cannonading
off to the right, skirmish-
ing in front.
Camped 2 1 m. from La-
vergne; rained all night;
slept in the mud.
Dec. 27th, ’62.
Up at day light; cloudy
& very foggy. Ours ^ ‘&’ reb-
el pickets in sight.
half of our regt. on
picket at once.
Started about 10 A.M.,
fighting & driving the
rebels before us as
we advanced, un-
til about 4 P.M., when
we encamped, in an
old rebel camp, about
9 ms. from Murfreesboro.
[112]
The rain has poured down
upon us in torrents, all day.
A delightful day!!
Dec. 28th, ’62.
Sabbath morning, –
clear & bright. All quiet
this morning. Immense
fields of cotton; the cot-
ton, which is in bales, is
torn to pieces & put in piles
by the boys for beds.
Dec. 29th, ’62.
Started about 10 A.
M., forced the rebels back to
within about 2
miles of Murfrees-
boro, where we halt-
ed on the bank of the [Dec. 31st, 1862. Battle of Murfreesboro or
Stone river. Stone’s River, Tennessee.]
[113]
“Jim”, Dr.
Fo – 1 Pr. pants
“ 1 blouse
“ – 1 pr. shoes
“ – 1 “ Gloves .75
“ – Comb .75
“ – gloves 2.00
Cr.
By cash $1.10
[114]
Price list for 1861.
Blankets $ 3.35
Blouses 2.75
Pants 3.50
Over Coats 8.50
Shirts 1.25
Drawers .40
Caps .75
Havre Sacks .32
Canteen .43
Shoes 1.94
Socks .26
Dress Coats 6.71
[115]
“Ah! never till life & mem-
ory perish
Can I forget how
dear thou art to me.”
[A big X is drawn through the above verse.]
[116]
W. F. Hunter’s.
Colt’s Revolver is
No. 199824.
W. F. Hunter’s
Watch is a double
cased silver watch –
curved lever – no. on
face 18724 – name Rail-
way time keeper.
On inside case same
name – no. 26388 – London
Arnold, Adams & Co.
Guns (15) turned
over, (& Cartridge Boxes, 45)
Dec. 2, 1862.
[Transcription Notes: Every effort was made to transcribe this diary exactly as found. Each page is presented with the exact spacing of the original.
When words are inserted above the line by the author, the symbol ^ is used with the inserted words bracketed. See Hunter’s page 17 for an example.
Insertions by the transcriber are placed in square brackets.
Hunter started out by numbering each page, but soon stopped doing this. For clarity, the transciber picked up the numbering system and continued with it to the end of the diary, with the page numbers inserted in square brackets.
This is one of two diaries. The other one is for the year 1863. At the conclusion of the 1862 diary and in the beginning of the 1863 diary, the battle of Stones River or Murfreesboro, TN is described in some detail.
-Mary Roy Dawson Edwards, Transcriber
June 2008.]
.
[Diary Two (1863): Found tucked in the back of the diary is a list of names and monies paid by Hunter. It reads, “Received of Capt. W. F. Hunter of Co. B, 97th O.V.I. Reg’t. The following amounts of money to be paid into the State Treasury of Ohio for the benefit of families & friends.” See Xerox copy.]
Wm. F. Hunter, Co. B, 97th Reg’t. O.V.I.
1
W. F. Hunter’s Journal
Jan. 1st., 1863 [Battle of Murfreesboro or Stone’s River, Tenn.]
This morning, the first of
the new year, finds me
still alive, by the mer-
cy of God,having yes-
terday passed through
one of the most terrific
and sanguinary conflicts
of the age, and which,
Heaven grant! may be
the last one in which
the peril of our coun-
try may require us
to participate, or even
witness. Our reg’t. is,
as it has been since
we arrived here, in
the advance, occupy-
ing a position in
a narrow point of
woods, about 600 yds
2
in rear of our position of
yesterday, where we were
ordered by Gen’l. Rose- [General Rosecrans gives order in person.]
crans, in person.
Our position a very ex-
posed one, being directly
under the fire of a reb
-el battery, which, to my
notion, is skillfully work-
ed; a battery of ours is
posted on an eminence
on our left which neces-
sarily [-] upon us the
fire of the enemy’s cannon.
Two brigades of our forces
crossed the river to-day on
the left. Constant firing a-
long both picket lines; near
noon, heavy firing of mus-
ketry & occasional firing of
cannon on the right.
About 4 o’clock, the reb-
el battery in front of
3
us opened & shelled us
furiously for an hour,
but without effect.
Quiet during the night.
Jan. 2d, ’63. [Battle of Murfreesboro or Stone’s River, Tenn. – 2nd day]
This morning changed
a little to the left, by
which my company is
placed in an open field.
There [?] up a barricade of
cedar brush and rails
as a protection against
rifle balls. matters re-
mained about as yes-
terday, until between 3
& 4 P.M. when then the
rebels advanced in
heavy force upon our
men, & on the other side
of the river, at the
same time a [-]
[This line is illegible.]
4
was poured upon us, but
with little effect. At
the onset our forces
fell back under the
pressure of the overwhelm-
ing force of the enemy,
but, in turn, they drove
the rebels, regaining their
former position, & driv-
ing the enemy from the
field in confusion. At
this time we moved a-
cross, wading the river,
& took a position on the
left flank of our forces
on that side, still in ad-
vance. Shortly after night
fall, it commenced rain-
ing, & rained, unceasingly
during the night; we be-
ing engaged part of the
time in erecting a heavy
barricade of rails.
5
In the affair of this eve-
ning, we took a battery
& a flag. Rations very
short.
Jan. 3d, ’63.
Still raining, & contin-
ued all day & night, at
times, in torrents. Not
enough food to satisfy
the gnawing of our keen
