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Contributed to Maine Memory Network by Maine Historical Society(Coll. 2145, Box 6/Ms 2)MMN #34733

Date: 1862-1863Description: John Marshall Brown’s private notebook

Private Note Book

of

John Marshall Brown

1st Lt –– Adjt.

20th Regt. Maine Vo[blot]

1862Dec 29th After dinner w. Col. C. toFredericksburg. after return whole rgtwent on picket.Dec. 30th. Rode into camp & gotforageand rations. called on the17th. found Corning sick. [?]regt. & changed camp of H. Q. chickenfor dinner. went to a farm house &bought apples. x x xRecd. Col. Ames for mess .658lb apples for mess .70 x x xIn afternoon Col. Vincent was relieved ofcommand of picket to take the BrigadeCol A takes picket. after dark I [?]Some new posts.Dec 1s 1s day of winter I took abath in Potomac creek under a greatpersimmon tree. or sycamore. Shortlyafter we were relieved. Rodin[?] &spent the day on monetary returns.

[Drawing of tent with label:]Hd Qur Dec 1t

Dec 2 Busy on reports. a court ofinquiry sitting here Col. A. pres.fixed up my tent ––––Pd. Fields for mess 5.00 ––––In eve wrote to Jim (no 18). –––––Dec 3d Busy on reports &c.got a mail in the Eve. & also

my [?] from Washington.got news in letter from Nellie ofMrs. Quorlts [?] death wrote to EBQ. –––––––––––––Dec. 4t Miss Eaton & Miss Fogg visitedus today. Bat drill afternoon –Pd. Field for mess 3.00 – –got a l –––––––––Dec 5t Rain & Snow. Major[?] up. got my box but somethings stolen from it. Rode to [?]to see about them. Mail fromhome 2 letters fr. moth 1 Jim 1 Em ––––––––Dec 6th Col. C. & I rode to Gen. Howardsthen to Falmouth & saw the [?] picketsthen rode back through the woodsto camp.

Dec 7t anniversary of Col. C’s weddingbeing promoted to 2d maine. dranklast bottle of ale. mail from homeletter fr Phil.

Dec 8t Started on picket. beyondold ground. rode all over the linebuilt splendid fire.

Dec. 9t changed Hd Qurs. rode out thewoods. had veal & potatoes for dinner.

Dec. 10t rode into camp. picket with--drawn at 12. got ready to movetomorrow

6t Mess Field . 4.00wrote to Mother (18) & Nellie (19)

Dec 11t Broke camp. marched tofront. did nothing wrote to Phil (20)bivouacked in woods. sent horseback to camp for [?].

Dec 12. Brigade moved & halted allday, rode over into Fredericksburgcamped for night in woods. wentforaging got chickens &c. Pd for mess .75

Dec 13. Brigade moved early & haltedin pontoon bridge. at 3 crossed & wentinto battle. gained the crest of themiddle hill & slept on the fieldlost 3 killed & about 28 wounded.

Dec 14. My birth day. Staid on the fieldall day, musketry so heavy that noone could reach us. 1 man killed &several wounded. at night relievedmarched in & bivouacked in thestreets.

Dec. 15. In Fredericksburg. afternoon went[?] & found wagons when I gotback regiment had moved. found

them at the upper end of the town.Hd. Qurs in a large house of Dr Shoff[?]wrote to mother (21) & Jim (22)Dec 16. at midnight the regiment ordered to fill rifle pits at the frontwent out Col. A. in charge of 3 regts.after went into town, reported to Gen G.& walked back at 3:30 ordered to fallback & evacuate town. crossed to oldcamp rested a few hours & then wentto old camp. changed regimental lines.

Dec. 17t Fixing up. Got men to work on log house for major & myself. sent inreport. 4 killed. 30 wounded 2 [?] & missingCol. A off on picket. Col Hathawaycame up with letters from Phil. mail.Dec 18.. Fixing up. mail fr. home.mince pie Pd Field mess 5.00[?] at Dress Parade [?]

on Col. Vincent. Slept in my loghouse

Dec. 19t Inspection. Trimonthlyreport. Adjts. office. Col. Tent fixed up.Supper at 17t Regulars, rode homewith Col. Vincent.

Dec. 20th At dress parade Phil & MrGilman came up supper. Col sick.

Dec 21t Rode over to Sykes & sawSam Gilman. wrote to Mother (23)

Dec 22. Col. to Washington.Sykes, Fredericksburg, BurnsideEuchre in Evening. Jones Express

Dec 23. Sickles. 17t Maine Gen [Paring?]& Gen. Howard. Col. Vincent.

Dec 24t Franklin & Burnside &Gen Binny Package came up

Dec 25 Christmas dinner 5.75 for mess

Dec 26 Busy in camp Phil & Mr Gilman making calls

Dec 27 Phil & Mr G. go home

Dec 28 Inspection grounds & qurs.took long ride with Col. C. sickDec 29t sick. after dress paradetook ride with Col. C.

Dec 30. to [?] creek 100 for messcoming back found regimentgone.

Dec 31. went after regimentfound them at Prichards Ford

Jan. 1s. Returned to camp

Jan 2. Muster & Inspection

Jan 3d Busy on monthly returns& ct. martial, Band serenadedMrs Vincent wrote Nel (24)

Jan 4 Sunday inspection

Jan 5 Called on Mrs Vincent

Jan 6. Batt. drill by Major

Jan 7. called on Mrs Vincent & Col Rice

Jan 8 Camp reviewed. Maj. West dinedwith us

Jan 9th Sent off muster roll

Jan 10t severe rain. scotch toddy

Jan 11th inspection, finished rolls wrote to Jim (25

Jan 12. Col. at Washingtontook a ride with Howell calledon Maj. Andrews & got my field glasscalled on Mrs Vincent. Sent S. G. 2.00

Jan 13 Sent in application for tourcalled on Mrs VincentCounting up my leavewrote to Mother no 26

Jan 14th got my leave for threedays

Jan 15 left camp & reached Wash called judge Clifford

Jan 23. reached Washington& [?] creek .

Jan 24 got to camp and joined the regt. rode with themfrom their bivouac

Jan 25. rain getting fixedput up new tent. wrote mother 27

Jan 26 [?] changes hands

Jan 27 Raining & uncomfortableread. Chs. Omalley

Jan 28 Snow, severe storm

Jan 29. clear, but very muddyrode over & saw Dick Pondgot letter from Mother. C. J F.& C S W. Paid off

Jan 30t Pd to Jan. got outmonthly returns.

Jan 31st sent in monthly returnscalls from M Loughlin. new fifeFeb 1st inspection called on16 mich. undress paradeorders about leaves

Feb 2. Col off inspecting theEngineers. Euchre in theEvening. wrote to Phil &Mother (28). wrote to Lot Morrill

Feb. 3d A very high wind &cold. got a field desk.

Feb 4d wrote Jim (no 29.)time at 16 Michigan Capt ElliotFeb 5d Inspection by Col Sherman22 Mass. Col Ch. leave cameSnow and rain. [?] storm

Feb 6. Col, Capt Bary & Clark offrain again

Feb 7. Rode to Corps Hd Qurs &called on Capt Temple undressparade. called on majorCapt Spear dined with us

Feb 8th Sunday. inspectionafternoon rode over to 17t Megone out on picket. (10.000 a year

Feb. 9th Capt Spear in commandpoliced up the regt. Majorgot his leave. rode over toregt wrote nellie (30)

Feb 10t Dick Pond called onme. read Caxtous. by Bulwer

Feb 11t Posting up the Descriptivebook. rained a little. got aletter from Mother & wrote toC.L.W.

Feb 12 Regt on picket. readingLady Audley’s Secret all day.rode over to 17tMe in afternoonwith Major West. got lettersfrom Nellie & Mother

Feb 13t rode out to the picketline & called on the [?]coming back called at theRegs & saw Paul. FrannyWinthrop & other “Lady Audleys”

Feb 14t rode out to [?] again&made another call, comingin I lost my swordread “Pauline”

Feb 15t – Regt came in fr. pickethad undress parade & recdorders. at work on Registerof absentees. Major came up

Feb. 16. Batallion drill in themanual. got letter from Phil.working on quarterly returns

Feb. 17. Snoweing hard all dayread “No name”

Feb. 18. Washed a dirty manin presence of the wholeregt. Posted up the order bookgot letters from Jim & Nellieraining hard all day, ahard storm. wrote Phil (31)

Feb. 19t made out trimonthly &report of absentees. called on 16mich & got Wilber Spirit

10t Dana Howell & lady calledon me.

11t Regt went out on picket clarkin command Col. Lt Col & myself stayedin camp

12 Regt on picket

13 Regt still on picket. wrote toHd Qurs to get ordinance [?]Called at 7t Maine & on Maj. Hyde.wrote to Mother no 32.

14. rode over to Cavalry with Capt Dana got a cask of ale from Washington[?] Regt came in from picket.

15. Carter called & we rode over to the regs. called on Mrs Wales not in called on Dick Pond. Saw Gilman brought me a letter from Father had inspection in morning in eve. a sleet storm. talk with colonel

16. Roan through me over his head had talk w. col. wrote to Father no 33.

17. St Patricks day. Col Kent & Maj. Hyde called went over to 9t Mass & saw [?]. They [?] to dinner. Policing

18. got ready for inspection. major went away. [?] at [?] H.Q.

19t. Inspect by Col [?] a fine affair. dined afterward at the Doctors.

20. Snow storm. Maj. West called & we herd a little about his promotion. wrote to Nellie 34

21. Snowing training had spirit rapping in Evening

22. rode to regulars called on Mrs Wales & saw Goddard wrote to Jim no 35.

23 [?] reports of Parrs called [Bab?] [sleeted?] in afternoon.

24 Raining Maj West called to see about the [?].

25. rain but cleared. review postponed went to the new ground & saw horses running. S. Dill called

26. Review of the division fine. after in Eve. at 16th Mich. Songs & mirth din

27. Races at Gen Binney’s fine show. after [?] and both [?] & onion

28. got a supply of blanks[?]

29. Dinner at my tent. champagne &c. long chat & songs in Col Chamberlains tent afterward

30. Ladins [?] went away today aprils [?] Goddard called & after supper called Mrs Wales. &c.

Rosterof Commissioned Officers ofThe 20th Regt. Maine Vols.

Field &1 Adelbert Ames2 Joshua L. Chamberlain3 Chas D. Gilmore4 John M. Brown5 Moses W. Brown6 Nahum P. Monroe7 Nahum A Hersom8 Servilla A. Bennet9 Luther P. French10 Alden Litchfield

StaffAug 8 do doSept 1t

Aug 29 Resigned Nov 20t 62 doAug 9t

Sept 2t

Oct 14Nov 20th

Cap-

1 Isaac S. Bangs jr A2 Phineas M. Jefferds B3 Isaac H. M Donald C4 Isaac W. Haskell D5 Atherton W. Clark E6 Timothy F. Andrews F.7 Ellis Spear G8 Henry C. Merriam H9 Lysander Hill I10 Charles L. Strickland K 11 Samuel T Keene F

tains

Aug 9h Discharged for [?] Feb 25h 63 do Resigned Nov 29h 1862 do Resigned Dec 10h 1862 do Resigned Nov 20h 1862 do do Died Oct 10h 1862 do do Resigned Jan 7h 1863 do Discharged Feb. 6h 1863 do Resigned Feb 5h 1863Oct 10h

1st Lieu-

1 Addison W. Lewis A2 James Lyford B3 Francis G. Russell C4 Edward B. Fifield D5 Joseph B. Fitch E6 Hosea B. Allen F7 Joseph F. Land G8 Daniel Stimson H9 Samuel T. Keene I10 Jas. H. Nichols K11 Prentiss M. Fogler I

tenants

Aug 9h

do Resigned Nov 29h 62 do Resigned Jan 10. ‘63. do Resigned Nov 21st 62 do do Resigned Nov 2d 1862 do do Resigned Jan 10h 63 do Promoted doOct 10h

2d Lieu-

1 Chas W. Billings A2 Walter G. Morrill B3 Augustus A. Strickland C4 George F. Sumner E5 Edwin Folsom F6 Joseph J. Hoffser G7 Wm C. Bailey H8 Prentiss M. Fogler I9 Wm W. Morell K10 Henry F. Sidelinger E11 Elisha Besse jr I12 George C. Getchell F13 Edward Simonton G

tenants.

Aug 9h

do do Resigned Dec 10h 1862 do Resigned Oct. 3d 1862 do Resigned Oct 14h 1862 do Resigned Nov 20h 1862 do Resigned Feb 8h 1863 do Promoted Oct10h 1862 doOct 3d

Oct 10h

Oct 14h

Nov 20h

Monthly Returns of The Present.Month Com. off. Enlist. men com. [sideways:] Duty Sick Total Duty Ex. Dut. Sick Total Leave Without

September 25 2 27 683 87 770 3October 30 5 35 544 47 285 876November 25 3 28 400 23 59 482 1December 25 2 27 391 17 124 532 1January 22 4 26 358 28 127 511 1February 22 1 23 461 17 70 548 2

Gain Loss

com. off. Enl. men Com. off Enl. men

2 3 23 3 4 5 15 2 1 4 33 1 2 4 61 3 30

20th Regiment Maine vols.

Absent Pres. & Abs. officers Enlist. men Sick Total Leave without Sick Total Com. off. Enlis. men Aggregate6 9 14 9 142 165 36 935 976 5 31 36 35 912 9474 5 11 12 396 419 33 901 9343 4 10 12 315 337 31 869 9001 2 5 3 291 299 28 810 838 2 6 2 222 230 25 778 803

List of officers and Enlisted

1 J. L. Chamberlain Lt col S.O.33.C.G. D2 Isaac S. Bangs jr Capt do do3 Atherton W. Clark Capt. do do4 Prentiss M. Fogler 1st Lieut. Sp.O.18.C.G.D5 Nahum P. Monroe Surgeun S.O.34.C.G.D6 Charles D. Gilmore Major S.O.23. 5h corps 7 Rufus B. Harmon Private H.Q. Orf. of Wash8 Rufus B. Plumer Sergt H.Q. 5A.C9 Wm H. Knight Corp do 10 Joseph B. Fitch 1st Lieut S.O.42 5.A.C.11 Wm K. Bickford Sergt S.O. 5th a.c.12 Randall B. Morton do do1 John Stockman Wagoner doHiram Morse Sergt doThos D. Chamberlain do doAlden Litchfield R.Q.M S.O.48 doLuther P. French Chaplain do doChas D. Gilmore Major S.O.49 doSaml T. Keene Capt do doEllis Spear do

men absent on leave, furlough

15 days Feb 7h Feb 22d Retd Feb 22/63 (S.O. 93)15 days Feb 7h Feb 22 Disd for pro. by War dept.15 days Feb 7h Feb 22 Retd Feb 22. 1863 20 days Jan 20h Feb 9h Sick do do 25 do30 days Feb 10h Mar 9h do do do do15 days Feb 10h Feb 25h Sick do Mch 15 do60 days Jan 27h Mar 27 furlough15 do Feb. 27h Mar 13h do15 do do do do do Mch 20, 186315 do Feb 28 Mar 14 Returned15 days Feb 28. do 14 do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do Mch 7. Mar 22. do do do do do do Mch 19. Apl. 3rd do do do do do 14 days Mch 9. Mch 24. do

Extra Duty Men Name Dennis Pullen D GO.18. nov 5’62 2MD WagonerJohn Stockman H do do do Wag. mvDaul. J. Prescost H do do do WagonerEben F. Manchester I do do do doAmbrose Whitcomb I do do do doButler Hen. H. E do do C.D LaborerIra M. Field K do do M.D driverE.P. Merrill D S.O no8.Jan 26 MD nurseJacob P. Smith F do do do doGeo. Tooothaker K do do do do 13Saml. A. Litchfield K SO.^Feb17.63 do CookGrenville M. Baker D SO.14Feb 21 do asst.Geo W. Carlton K do do do doOliver Howes I do do do doAlexander Douglass F do do do doRoyal B Decker B do do do do

20h Regt Maine Vols

Daily Duty men

Name co Authority when duty

20h Regt. Me Vols