From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd             JULY 3D.–Uncle Sam’s cashier has arrived at last, and we have been paid for two months’ service. The married men are quite anxious to send their money home to their wives and little ones. It is risky sending money North from here, yet, to some, more dangerous [...]

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd             JULY 2ND.–This is Camp Tiffin. Our regiment was favored to-day with a large mail, and nothing could have been more acceptable. Letters from home were looked into first, and next, of course, came sweethearts. One letter was read aloud, describing the capture of a butternut camp, in [...]

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd July 1ST.–Here we enter upon the patriotic month of July, and where and how we are to spend it is yet beyond our conjecture, for we never know in this kind of service what a day may bring forth. Preparations appear to have been made here for remaining [...]

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd             JUNE 3OTH.–Our dreams were broken this morning at daylight by the bug’e call, and in a very few minutes the whole command was up and ready to march–their beds around the owners’ necks. Our woolen blankets are rolled up as tight as possible, having a rubber one [...]

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd             JUNE 29TH.–The 4th of July is fast approaching, and if we do not get our prize by that time, we will have a little celebration out here in the woods, for we have flags, drums and plenty of spread-eagle speakers, and we can omit the cannon, of [...]

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd             JUNE 28TH.–The boys of the 20th left at Vicksburg joined our regiment to-day. We were very anxious to hear how the siege was progressing, and, to our surprise, learned that it was going right on as usual, without our assistance. It was interesting to hear of the [...]

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd             June 27TH.–A number of our boys went a few miles, blackberrying, and picked quite a quantity to bring home, when we heard the sound of horses’ hoofs, and suddenly concluding we had berries enough, we beat a hasty retreat for camp and got there safely. The weather [...]

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd             JUNE 26TH.–We have heard that Port Hudson is ours, and I hope this may be true, for it will tend to hasten the surrender of Vicksburg.             A little dirt has been thrown up ahead of us, as a shield, in case we have to fight the [...]

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd             JUNE 25TH.–We have orders to stay in camp, ready to move at a moment’s notice. Our marching orders are still delayed, so we have enjoyed a good rest. We are now out of hearing of the guns at Vicksburg, and it seems very still around us, indeed. [...]

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd             JUNE 24TH.– Awaiting orders to march is as tiresome as waiting at a station for a train. We were ready for marching orders again this morning, but failed to get them.             The weather is hot. Some of the rebel prisoners have said we could not stand [...]

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd             JUNE 23d.–We halted this morning at six o’clock, and but a few minutes elapsed before two-thirds of the regiment were fast asleep. A few very hungry ones, only, made coffee and took breakfast.             We find ourselves again on the road to Jackson, but what our final [...]

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd             JUNE 22D.–Johnston is getting lively again, and beginning to kick up a dust in the rear; so we have orders to move tonight, with three days’ cooked rations. One regiment from each brigade in Logan’s division constitute our expedition, which, I think, will find him, and if [...]

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd             JUNE 21ST.–To-day again church bells at the North are calling good people to worship, and to hear words of cheer and comfort to the soul. The prayers of our patriotic mothers and fathers that will go up to-day for the suppression of this rebellion will surely have [...]

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd JUNE 20TH.–This morning our whole line of artillery–seven miles long–opened on the doomed city and fortifications at six o’clock, and kept up the firing for four hours, during which time the smoke was so thick we could see nothing but the flash of the guns. No fog could [...]

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd JUNE 19TH.–For a month we have been watching our enemy vigilantly, and a panorama, consisting of a great variety of war scenes, has, during that time, passed before us. We have had charging, digging rifle-pits, blowing up forts and firing all sizes of cannon, to say nothing of [...]

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd JUNE 18TH.–I was relieved from guard at 9 A.M. and returned to camp. There has been very heavy firing all day, and it is rumored that Pemberton will try to break through our lines; but if he tries that game he will find it dangerous enough. It is [...]

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd JUNE 17TH–I was detailed to the charge of a squad of men to guard rebel prisoners in the corral at Logan’s headquarters. They were not hard to guard, for they think themselves in pretty good hands, and surely they seem to get better grub here than in their [...]

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd JUNE 16TH.–We were relieved before daylight, and returned to camp pretty tired. I did not feel well last night, and having had no chance to sleep, I am a little the worse for wear this morning. There was not much firing done during the night, but we had [...]

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd JUNE 15TH.–Our regiment went into the rifle-pits again before daylight, at which time the din of musketry and cannonading from both sides had begun, and will cease only when darkness covers the earth. We are now so close to Fort Hill that a hard tack was tossed into [...]

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd JUNE 14TH–Sunday. No bells to ring us to church. I wish we had one day in seven for rest and freedom from care; but there is no such thing now for the soldier. It is shoot, shoot, dodge, dodge, from morning to night, without cessation, except when we [...]

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd                       JUNE 13TH.–The siege continues with increased fury, and the boom of cannon announces the sacrifice of more lives. Instead of any cessation the artillery plays upon the city almost every moment throughout the day. The variety of [...]

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd                       JUNE 12TH.–We expect to be paid off soon, as the pay-rolls are now being made out. Money cannot do us much good here among the hills, but we can send it home. Many a family is dependent [...]

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd JUNE 10TH.–The heat of the sun increases, and we must improve our quarters. Accordingly a part of the day has been spent in cutting cane and building bunks with it on the side of the hill. Such improvements protect us better from the sun. Last night I sat [...]

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd JUNE 9TH.–To-day our regiment was at the front. The rebels kept pretty quiet; they are learning to behave very well. In fact they might as well lie low and save their powder. Our men have been employed digging a ditch leading up to Fort Hill, when they intend [...]