Journal of Charles B

Southborough Historical Society

Southborough, MA

Journal of Charles B. Sawin

The following is a transcription of the journal of Charles B. Sawin, dated 1862. It was the time of the Civil War and it seems that Mr. Sawin was on his way to fight the war.

Here are the first few entries from the journal, typed as the original. I find it touching that on two seperate occasions in this short excerpt, people brought fruit for the soldiers.

Journal of Charles B. Sawin
51 Reg. M. V. M.

1862

Monday, Sept. 15

We arrived in Grafton about ten o’clock, waited there till the Westboro boys arrived then drilled a short time. We went to dinner a little before twelve. After dinner drilled again a short time, then took coaches for Worcester. We were escorted by two fire companies, fifteen horsemen and citizens without number. When we arrived at New England Village we were presented with a flag. We reached W. without further incident, allighting from our coaches about a mile before we reached our barracks and marched the rest of the way. We found our barracks much more comfortable than expected. Our bunks consist of four upright posts on which are formed three shelves, one above the other, with boards about six inches wide around the outside to keep us from falling out. About half past six marched to the quartermasters and got our blankets.

Tuesday, Sept. 16

During the afternoon drill the Capts’ ladies came around with baskets of pears. This evening a man from Charlton was killed by the cars and brought into the barracks.

Wednesday, Sept. 17

Received a call from father and mother. After the five o’clock drill a squad of us went over to the river bathing. A.B. Bemis was detached as guard. The guard have to be on two hours and off four through the twenty-four. Another company came into camp this afternoon which makes ten companies in the regiment.

Friday, Sept. 19

This morning I, with about a dozen more were called out by the Capt. And drilled separate from the rest. We received a call from some Westboro friends who brought up some apples for the company. I received a call from father and grandfather.

Sunday, Sept. 21

I received a call from Lucy Goodnow, David Huntly. They brought dinner and I took dinner with then in their carriage. One of the guards was taken up and put in the guard house for stopping an officer from crossing the lines. The man thought he did right as he had not his epulets [sic] on so that there was not any way to show that he was an officer. So he sent for the commander of the guards and he told him that he had done perfectly right and released him. At five o’clock we had a sermon preached to us by Mr. Lewis, the former methodist[1] minister of Hopkinton. It was short but very good. The band also gave us some music.

Monday, Sept. 22

I was detailed to assist the cook for the day. In the afternoon there was a story started that the Colonel said that the men would not receive any pay for the time that they were in camp before they were sworn in. It caused a great excitement. The men were going to leave right off. Some of them got their bundles and started. They would have gone if the Colonel had not come out. He had all he could do to stop them. The officers of Capt. Higenson’s company were presented with swords and trappings by the citizens of Worcester.

Tuesday, Sept. 23

I was Detailed as guard for the day.

Thurs., Sept. 25

We were sworn into the service of the U.S. this afternoon. There were two irishmen [1] in the company who refused to take the oath. The Capt. Gave them a furlow [sic] for nine months.

Friday, Sept. 26

There was quite a time last night with a man who was a little tightish. When they arrested him he struck the lieutenant of the guard in the face twice which gave him quite a handsome face. He struck the officer of the day also. It took six or eight men to get him into the guard house.

Saturday, Sept. 27

An irishman ran the guard this afternoon. He did not get out of sigh of the camp before they caught him and placed him in the guard house.

Monday, Sept. 29

The non-commishioned [sic] officers were appointed to-day. I was appointed corporal.

Thursday, Oct. 2

This is the second day it has rained and I hope it will be the last for it is dull music sitting around all day doing nothing. This evening there was quite a ball. The men adjourned to the cookroom, got the band to turn out and then went at it in earnest. Ladies were made for the occasion by just tying handkerchiefs around the right arm. It made quite a dance come to get one or two hundred couple on the floor. They kept good hours as all lights have to be extinguished at nine and one half o’clock.

[1] The typewritten copy I have transcribed this from does not capitalize the first character of “methodist” or “irishmen” (later in this narrative). I would not consider this a sign of disrespect, however; rules of capitalization have changed over time. Also, the original typist could have applied the capitalization rules that were in effect when the transcription occurred, or could have had a very stubborn Shift key that did not “take” all the time!