Albert Husted Diary, September 1, 1864-October 31, 1864
Fri Sept. 2
Fine. Telegram from Gen'l Grant, stating that our forces have entered Atlanta.
Sat. Sept. 3
Pleasant. In command of 80 men at work in the fort to our left. They do pretty well. Telegram tonight from Gen'l Slocum in Atlanta. which he holds. Sherman has fought and whipped Hood at East Point.
Sun. Sept. 4
Cloudy. Send in Return of O. C. and G. Eq. for May. Noon Prof. Huntley and Lt. Cook arrive from City Point. They take dinner and tea and we have a good talk and visit.
Sun. Sept. 5
Warm. Forts on our right and left are about completed; guns are in and we are pretty well prepared to be "driven away" again. Receive telegram from Gen'l Sherman 26 miles South of Atlanta. He attacked and whipped a part of Hood's forces and these are ------
Tue. Sept. 6
Rainy. 9 AM meeting of officers. We concluded to give the 83rd. Pa. officers farewell tonight. A Committee of Maj. K and Capt. W. and G. They buy liquor and stuff and several get pretty drunk.
Wed. Sept. 7
Splendid day, cool. 7 AM on picket. Very pleasant quiet time.
Thurs. Sept. 8
7 AM off picket. Fine day, very quiet.
Fri. Sept. 9
Fine. This morning we learn of death of Justin Huntley at Whitewall Pa. Aug. 26 of fever. Brisk cannonading PM in front of Petersburg. Rebs are shelling our new railroad
Sat. Sept. 10
Quite a skirmish between 1 and 2 this morning near Fort Warren. The 2nd. Corps advance their skirmish line and hold the new position. I go over to Dov. Hosp. and have tooth filled.
Sun. Sept. 11
Fine day. Evening attend service at Brig. H'd Qrs. A pretty fair sermon. The first I have heard in over four months.
Mon. Sept. 12
Cold. Very strong north wind.
Tue. Sept. 13
Cool. PM Presentation of medals to the men who have captured colors from the rebels, at 5th. Corps. H'd Q'rs by General Meade. We move and fix up our tent.
Wed. Sept. 14
Very pleasant. No stir, not a bit of news. Lt. Blakely calls tonight and we have a fine talk.
Thurs. Sept. 15
Fine. We receive notice that the time of the Reg't expires Sept. 24th.
Fri. Sept. 16
Warmer. Receive notice that Brig. Gen'l Jackson has been ordered to send 200 white drafted men to the Reg't.
Sat. Sept. 17
7 AM on picket. Very pleasant and very quiet. 11 PM 187 substitutes and volunteers reach the Reg't. Some of the officers are slightly dumbfounded, and fear they will not start for home on the 24th.
Sun. Sept. 18
7 AM off picket. Our recruits bid fair to become good soldiers. They look well. Those of us who must have stayed anyway are glad to see them -- we had rather have a Reg't than a squad.
Mon. Sept. 19
Fine. Work hard and get out one muster out rolls Co. "I". It has 156 names. Our recruits get their first drill.
Tue. Sept. 20
Dusty. Officer of the Day. 3rd. Reg't has a Brig. drill at 4 PM. Official information tonight that Sheridan has whipped Early, captured about 5000 prisoners, some cannon, and "sent him whirling" through Winchester.
Wed. Sept. 21
Work hard all day and get out two transfer rolls. By another telegram the good news from Sheridan is confirmed. The rebs are retreating in great haste.
Thurs. Sept. 22
8 AM on fatigue duty with 50 recruits, cutting and drawing abatis [A barricade of felled trees and branches]. Tonight work on transfer rolls, We learn that only Capt,. Wood and Lt. Bannett [Bennett] and Hears [Hoes] and myself are to stay.
Fri. Sept. 23
The 44th. N.Y. Batt. is formed, 4 ------. I have old "E" and H and 49 recruits., in. all 116 names. We have a great, deal of work to do, but by dint of hard work get pretty well through. So busy tonight that we have no time for a "social."
Sat. Sept. 24
Last day of the 44th. 6 AM Reg't forms line, Lt. Col. Conner says a few words, Capt. Wood replies and our companions in so many battles leave us. We wish them joy of their return, they have nobly earned it. But we sorrow for ourselves that we must stay yet a while.
Sun. Sept. 25
Splendid day. We are very busy giving out equipment etc. to recruits and getting our Camp into shape. Reports tonight that there is a movement.
Mon. Sept. 26
Ordered to command Co. "B". Very fine weather. AM drill recruits 2 hours. PM from 2 to 3. then on Brig. Drill till sundown. There seems some movement brewing but just what it will be is uncertain. Sg't Thompson stays with me tonight.
Tue. Sept. 27
A most magnificent day. Drill my Co. "E" 4 hours. Think they are getting along very fast.
Wed, Sept, 28
Quite warm. Have two quite satisfactory drills. Our recruits will be soldiers very soon if we can continue. Heavy firing tonight near Fort Warren. Things look a little as though something were brewing.
Thurs. Sept. 29
1 AM We are roused by orders to be ready to move at 3. Pack up but there is no move. PM drill our recruits in loading. Very good reports tonight from Butler across the James.
Fri. Sept. 30
9 AM moves out near the fort on our left. A march of two miles brings us to the rebel intrenchments, we charge and take them. 3rd. Brig. gets quite a fort. Towards night, having advanced half a mile the rebs attack our left and there is quite a fight.
Sat. Oct. 1
Rainy. PM some cavalry fighting on our left, and a general swing forward of our whole left seems to have been contemplated, but the rain prevents. Sharp firing this morning on our right.
Sun. Oct. 2
Variable. We get breakfast, pack up and move a short distance to the front, expecting a fight. The rebels shell us some. Gen'ls Meade, Warren, Humphries, Griffin and Bartlett have a very narrow escape. We take position and intrench.
Mon. Oct. 3
Misty. I lay out camp and regulate things. 2 PM 44th. moves from extreme left of our Div. to extreme right, lay out another camp. 1 PM Capt. Wood and Lt. Munger leave us expecting to be mustered out. ----- 7 Its. Commissions reach us by mail.
Tue. Oct. 4
Clears up warm. I set all hands to work clearing up, making breastworks, etc. 11 AM Capt. Wood gets back, not mustered Out. 12 M. I go on picket with 50 men, mostly ------- Dutch and Frenchmen.
Wed. Oct. 5
Hot, off picket. PM work on Drs. List etc. 9 PM detailed for picket again, protest against it.
Thurs. Oct. 6
7 ½ AM on picket, but protest and am soon relieved. 12 M receive the order consolidating our Battalion with the 140th. and 146th. N.Y. We learn tonight that we are to go in by Col. The 44th. Reg't is also mustered out today.
Fri. Oct. 7
Fine day. 8. AM Battalion starts for 1st. Brig. 2nd. Div. Hd. Qrs. Two Cos., (C and E) are assigned to 140th, the others to 146th. it is finally decided that the men are to be distributed among the Cos. and the officers ------ mustered out.
Sat. Oct. 8
Cold and windy. 7 AM Cos. E and B are distributed among the ten Cos. of the 140th. They look sad enough, but take it quietly. I work hard all day making out Muster Roll. 8 AM Corps drives in the reb pickets as a --------.
Sun. Oct. 9
Cold but pleasant. Work hard on rolls. Get E's complete and B's pretty well started. Our boys still cling to the idea of a new ---- of the 44th. Gen. Warren is said to have exceeded his authority in ordering our consolidation.
Mon. Oct. 10
Very fine. Complete transfer roll,. A recommendation has gone up for the Muster out of the supernumerary officers in the 44th. Batt. N.Y. This looks like home.
Tue. Oct. 11
Splendid day and splendid reports from both Sheridan and Butler. 140th. moves camp PM. I do not go, work on returns. Heavy cannonading and musketry in front of Petersburg tonight.
Wed. Oct. 12
Warm. The order for the Muster out of the 5 supernumerary officers of the 44th. Batt. comes down. This making a sure thing of it. I shall get my papers out tomorrow God and Gen'l. Grant willing.
Thurs. Oct. 13
Work hard, some little vexation but find I am coming out pretty nearly straight. Capt. Wood gets his muster out papers tonight.
Fri. Oct. 14
------- sounds pretty lively, get mustered outs get papers for all the property I can but still find myself a little behind. 4 PM start for City Point, sleep at the Hospital. Left. Grayson with Capt. Clark of the 140th. N.Y.
Sat. Oct. 15
Fine day, warm. 10 AM in Co. with Capt. Sturdevant and Sg'ts Furns and Thompson start for Butler's line. Go first to Point of Rocks, mount the lookout, then start for the James, cross in a row boat to Dutch Gap, some rebel prisoners are at work in, the canal. Sleep at Bermuda Hundred, --- ------
Sun. Oct. 16
Get over the Point. I breakfast with Capt. Sturdevant. See his Reg't turn out for Inspections they look black but soldierly. 10 ½ AM take mail boat for Washington, a-fine ride down the James, get fairly started up the Chesapeake before --------.
Mon Oct. 17
At daylight find ourselves still 60 miles from Washington, reach the city at 10. Go to Hotel, ----- up, wash and get some dinner. Tonight work on Returns.
Tue. Oct. 18
Fine. The 6th. Corps and part of the 19th have embarked at Alexandria. I work steadily all day, get my return nicely completed. Capts. Nash and Danks call on us tonight.
Wed. Oct. 19
My birthday 9 AM present my papers at Ordnance and Q. M. Dept., get them to 2nd. Auditor in the first. Capts. Danks and Nash get away tonight. 2 years ago tonight I slept at the soldiers' Inst with Co. E. in this city. Tonight about ¼ of them sleep their last sleep.
Thurs. Oct. 20
Fine and warm, dusty. Make no progress with my papers. The QM. Dept seems much crowded with business. Glorious news from Sheridan. He captured 43 cannon and many prisoners.
Fri. Oct. 21
Warm and dusty. By close attention get my papers through the Q.M. Dept, they are sent to 2nd. Auditor. Great Lincoln Torch light procession tonight. A McClellan flag is burned.
Sat. Oct 22
Work all my papers through the 2nd. Auditor's with stoppage of $7.45 on Ordnance. AM not quite in time to get my pay. 4.45 PM start for Baltimore, arrive 6 ½, get same supper find Uncle John Smith's folks in bed, they get up.
Sun. Oct. 23
Chilly. Take a plain breakfast. Uncle and I then start for Fort McHenry, visit also Fort Federal Hill and the Washington Monument. Return 1 PM Dinner of Sour Kraut, potatoes, bread and pork. 3 PM start for Wash. Get some supper at my old lodgings. Tonight at Methodist Church on 4 ½ Street. Nearly 6 months since I have been inside a church.
Mon. Oct. 24
9 AM get my final pays, $225, rather more than I expected, $36 traveling pay. 6 ½ PM start for home in Company with Capt. Wood, take sleeping car. It is pretty warm but we rest very well.
Tue. Oct. 25
7 AM reach N.Y. City, nearly 2 hours behind time. Breakfast at Delmonico's. 2 PM reach Poughkeepsie, Gov. Morton etc. at same time. Quite a procession awaits him. I listen sometime to his addresses. Find Calvin who takes me home.
Wed. Oct. 26
Home again. AM look round at the farm, stock, etc. PM help a little pulling turnips. Things look and seen, very much as they ought to. Father and Mother look scarcely a day older,
Thurs. Oct. 27
Fine day. AM ride up to Luther's, find they have quite a family: the latest arrival being a little girl. The boys are getting to be quite lads, PM call at H. B's, find him as of old. Home at dark.
Fri. Oct. 28
Rainy. 2 PM start for Calvin's, find them all well and going well.
Sat. Oct. 29
3 PM attend Republican meeting at Clinton Hollow. Speaking by Disc't Att. Anthony, M. D. Wilber., etc. The unfavorable weather prevented many from coming. Call at Mr. Gan [Ganse?]
Sun. Oct. 30
8 AM start for home, attend church at P. Valley with mother. See a number of my old friends and Uncle Geo. B. and children came up to dinner and for the afternoon. We have quite a talk over "Old Alec and Little Mac." Attend church at Point tonight.
Mon. Oct. 31
2 PM start far E. B. Barne's, spend the evening and put up with him. We look over our accounts and agree upon a settlement.