1st Lieutenant James Bullock’s Diary – Co. I -15th New Jersey Infantry – SOLD

A great diary that records Bullock’s service from June 19, 1864, to January 25, 1865, including a super description of the Battle of Cedar Creek, his being wounded, and drowned in the disaster of the burning of the Army Transport Steamer “GENERAL LYON.” 

SKU: JM23-650 Category:

Contact Us About This Product

Description

1st Lieutenant James Bullock’s Diary – Co. I -15th New Jersey Infantry.

James J. Bullock enlisted as a corporal on August 4, 1862, into Company “A”, 15th New Jersey Infantry.  He has promotions to  1st Sergeant in Co. A, in May of 1864; 1st Lieutenant  in July of 1864 (Co. “I”);  Captain on February 9, 1865 (Co. “B”).  He was wounded in the Battle of Cedar Creek, and drowned on March 31, 1865, off  Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, falling from the Steamer “General Lyon.

Captain Bullock was from Flemington, New Jersey, and was 20 years on December 19, 1864. This diary, and other related material came from a large collection of New Jersey Civil War items. Not too long ago, this past collector donated all of his photographs of NJ soldiers and sailors to the State of New Jersey, thus any photographs seen in this listing are COPIES. At least one can view these copies of his parents, siblings, family, including his brother John who was killed during the war while serving in Co. G., 6th NJ Vols.

Original items include:

  • Diary, commencing on June 19, 1864 and ends on January 25, 1865.  The diary is completely filled with the exception of three pages at the end. All entries are in ink. Calf bound with two interacting loops that lock the diary when pen (pencil) is inserted.  All bound pages are separated from the leather spine, yet all pages are tightly held together.  Overall condition is very good.  Nearly the entire diary is legible.  Pages dated Sept. 2 through Sept. 24, had been removed. These pages had been filled out, and I don’t know why or when they were removed. In the Unit History, it records that Grant had Sheridan move into the Shenandoah Valley, but there is no mention of the 15th in their history until the date September 18. and covers the battle of Opequan.  Why this was removed is unknown, but not by someone wanting information, as many words would have been affected. There appears to be either blood or another dark and similar substance that has stained several of these pages. Could it have been family not wanting to see this?
  • The New Testament of the Lord And Savior Jesus Christ, New York, American Bible Society, 1850.  Identified twice on inside cover and title page, “James J. Bullock.”  Red Moroccan leather binding; closing tab and loop on cover are missing (torn away). Overall in very good condition.  This Bible was used extensively during Bullock’s time in service, and as mentioned in his diary, went to many prayer meeting on most days, and read at other times in spare time.
  • Large stamped cover on Manila cover, with black CDS stamp from FLEMINGTON, N.J. DEC 30, with three connected and canceled 3 cent Washington stamps, addressed to Lieut. Bullock, Officer’s Hospital, Annapolis, Md. (1864).  Fine condition.

During Bullock’s time in service, and prior to his being wounded at Cedar Creek, he was engaged with the regiment in these engagements; Culpepper, Petersburg, Strasburg, Winchester, Opequan (removed), Fisher’s Hill, and Cedar Creek.  He would have been in the engagements prior to June 19, 1864: Salem Church, Fredericksburg, Salem Heights, Gettysburg, Brandy Station, Wilderness Campaign, Laurel Hill, Spotsylvania Court House Campaign, Cold Harbor Campaign.

Diary contains a great deal of movement by the unit, and many actions against the enemy are brief, but you know how his company got there, when, and what they did. Bullock being an officer records, his working on the major responsibility of filling all the required forms, such as Muster Rolls, Descriptive Rolls, Final statements for discharge men and those killed or wounded, Clothing, Camp and Garrison Equipage, Payroll Musters, and more. I have seen very few diaries record one of the most difficult duties officers had to do, beside training and fighting. Record keeping took place just prior to movements, battles, etc., and in the evening of same, and Bullock used the assistance of his junior officers, and clerks to help in this work.

Bullock records, the lack of water, and digging for it. Waiting for the Brigade wagons to come up for clothing and subsistence, foraging, and receiving some supplies of apples, pickles, etc. from the Sanitary Commission. Many times no food was available, or rations for two or three days came with the proviso of making those rations last for many more days.

Times of awaking, moving, halting, and locations were setting up camps, and town and cities marched through or retreating to are recorded. It would be easy using this diary to place this company, (and regiment, Battalion, Brigade, and Division) everywhere they were.

He records his guard duties, special assignments, pickets, skirmish lines, rear guard, etc. The names of officers promoted; men wounded or killed, straggler captured, etc.

Battle content thought brief, is concise. The Battle of Cedar Creek is great!  He described the initial actions, officer’s killed, and wounded, and then described his being wounded, his making to the rear to an ambulance, and the long process of going to all the stations and hospitals until he arrives home for rest and recuperation. Every ambulance, train, carriage, and the times of movements, and placed he stopped to get to Flemington.

On March 29, 1865, while escorting discharged soldiers, paroled and escaped prisoners from southern prisons/ stockades, the Army Transport Steamer, GENERAL LYON, catch fire and sunk off Cape Hatteras, NC. Of approximately 600 passengers and crew members, only 15 crewmen and 27 passengers were confirmed survivors. A crew member stated later that it was believe that barrels on kerosine oil in the engine room had come loose, and spilled, where a horrific fire was ignited, consuming the steamer rapidly to the waterline, and the steamer could not be saved.  The Transport General Sedgwick, pick up what survivors were found, and returned to shore at New York.  James J. Bullock was the lone soldier from New Jersey who lost his life.

I have taken a few pictures of pages, that give some idea of what entries look like.  I have also taken the time to transcribe the entire diary for the convenience of the collector.

A very informative work, that gives a fabulous look into the duties, trials, and troubles of an officer in the field during the Civil War.

The diary transcribes out to be 31 typed pages, being approximately 200 pages.

An important and informative piece of Civil War history.

 

Additional information

Weight 1 lbs